Cup challenges ahead for Birmingham

Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish has challenged his side to make the most of their home advantage against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

The Blues take on Wednesday in an FA Cup fifth round tie at St Andrews this weekend, knowing a win over the League One outfit will send them through to the quarter-finals.

Complicating matters is an impending clash with Arsenal in the Carling Cup final the following weekend, with McLeish conceding he will need to rest some players before taking on the Gunners.

But the Birmingham boss refused to use the likely absence of several first-team regulars as an excuse ahead of Saturday’s match, and said the Blues must not let their guard down at home.

“It’s a home game. We are obliged to do it for our fans,” McLeish said.

“They are paying good money to come to St Andrews and it’s a home tie. You couldn’t have asked for more than getting a home tie in the FA Cup and we want to take advantage of that.”

“It’s against a huge club in Sheffield Wednesday, Gary Megson has taken over (as manager) and they’ll be looking for a scalp.”

“That’s the romance of the FA Cup; we don’t want to spoil the fact that we have got a home advantage.”

McLeish cautioned against underestimating their lower league opposition, and heaped praise on newly appointed boss Megson.

“I came across Gary Megson when he was managing Bolton last year in the Premier League,” he said.

“They came and beat us at St Andrew’s in the early part of the season.”

“Gary has been around a lot, he is very, very experienced. He knows how to win games; he knows how to shape up a team to win a football match so I am very wary of that.”

“But as I said, I’ve got great players coming into this side and I’m looking for those players to make an impact.”

Looking ahead, McLeish said he was eagerly awaiting Birmingham’s trip to Wembley Stadium for the Carling Cup final, even after watching Arsenal surprise Spanish giants Barcelona 2-1 at the Emirates on Wednesday.

“I watched them through my hands because there was some wonderful football from both sides,” McLeish said.

“It was a great victory for Arsenal but it shows how bigger task it is for us in the Carling Cup final. But it is eleven against eleven and we’ll be ready.”