It was some pathetic defending for that goal and if you think it was just the back post defenders fault I'd suggest you don't understand the game as well as you think you do.
The ball should never have been delivered with such accuracy, that goal should have been cut out well before it ever reached the back post.
He may not be a defender but it was a poor effort. When I first saw the highlights I had assumed it was Hutton (bald head, right back) and was about to give him grief for that goal but realised it was Ireland so he has to shoulder some of the blame instead (I assume Hutton was out of position as well?).
I saw the same game as you did and saw the same goal incident as you did, ive played at a high enough standard for x amount of years, so i think my understanding of the game is pretty much there.
Granted, the first rule of a full-back is...stop the cross. The cross does'nt come in, the chance is never created, that much i agree. But lets not forget Stephen Ireland isnt a full back, he's an attacking midfielder, so to put the blame on his shoulders is way out of line. It was Warnocks man at the back post, if he cant deal with it by getting goal side, if he's been dragged out of position, all he does is call to Dunne or Collins to deal with it. You see a cross might be coming in, scratch that, you see the ball is in a wide position, you get goal side of your man, touch tight. Simple rules of defending, even if you cant win the header, you put enough pressure on the attacker so that it is not an easy chance to cobert. Ok, Ireland didnt stop the cross, but if Warnock is doing his job, or passes his man on to Dunne or Collins, we win the game 3-1. Im sorry, but a free header at the far post is criminal at any standard let alone the best league in the world.
I can guarantee it was'nt Stephen Ireland who took the brunt of the bollocking of McLeish. Warnock is on the left and has the best view out of all the defensive line, its down to him to give information to the central defenders if he cant deal with it.