Black Cats´ visit another cup final: McLeish

Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish says his players must treat Sunderland’s visit to St Andrew?s on Saturday as another cup final.

The Carling Cup winners know they must not take any chances against the struggling Black Cats.

West Bromwich Albion?s 3-2 win at the Stadium of Light left Steve Bruce?s side with one point from their last eight matches.

“It was a good point for us at Blackburn, other teams dropped points or didn?t get any,” McLeish told the Birmingham Post and Mail.

“We go back to St Andrew?s now for another cup final and it?s a big pressure game for them.”

“It?s amazing (Sunderland?s dip). That tells you the competitive nature of the Premier League. Nobody is safe.”

“I?m sure Steve would like to be in a better position, coming to St Andrew?s.”

“But at the end of the day they?re a right good side, a dangerous side.”

“At home, if we apply ourselves and perform to the level we have done in the last two games, then I have got to be confident about this team.”

“Sometimes things can go against you on a given day but if they give me that level of commitment and performance, I wouldn?t be criticising if a result goes against us.”

McLeish said he did not want to predict how many points Blues would need to avoid relegation.

“Not got a clue,” he said.

“We will try and get points in every single game between now and the end of the season. We have got some very hard games, some games which people will expect us to get nothing from, but we?ve been in that situation before this season and caused surprises.”

“At St Andrew?s, that is going to be key. Those games will be like cup finals.”

Blues should have Roger Johnson available again after he was knocked out at Ewood Park.

But Curtis Davies took a whack to the knee immediately after entering the fray as Johnson?s replacement for the second half.

Martin Jiranek (toe) remained sidelined at the weekend and Blues also had to rule out Jean Beausejour with a tight hamstring.