McLeish: Birmingham can bounce back

Alex McLeish insists he is capable of leading Birmingham straight back to the English Premier League after they were relegated on Sunday.

McLeish’s men were beaten 2-1 by Spurs at White Hart Lane, with a Roman Pavlyuchenko brace doing the damage for the Londoners and meaning Birmingham finished one point short of safety behind Wolves.

It was a season of contrasting fortunes for Birmingham, with their Carling Cup win over Arsenal at Wembley in February the undisputed high point.

But their league form dropped off badly after that triumph to see them become the first side since Norwich in 1985 to be relegated in the same season in which they lifted the league cup.

Nevertheless, McLeish insists he is the right man for the job and said he will rise to the challenge of life in the Championship when asked if he plans on staying at St Andrew’s.

“I don’t see why not,” McLeish told Sky Sports.

“I’ve been knocked down today but it’s not fatal and I’m going to rise to it again and pick myself up.”

“It’s going to be a pretty horrible few days – and whole summer I suppose – but I’ve got to get down to work to try and get Birmingham back into the Barclays Premier League.”

“I’ll chat with the chairman (Carsen Yeung) in midweek and see where we go from there. We know to get back (into the Premier League) we have to maintain the quality factor.”

“The players have got to fight on and rise to the next challenge. It’s not fatal. They’ve got to pick themselves up again; we as a club and a team have to do that as well.”

Spurs boss Redknapp, meanwhile, has hailed a terrific campaign from his men that saw them finish fifth in the league and enjoy a fantastic debut in the Champions League, progressing to the quarter-finals.

“It’s been an incredible season – the European adventure, beating Arsenal (away) for the first time (since 1993), going to Liverpool and winning.”

“We’ve had great games and this has been far and away the best season in the Premier League that Tottenham has had.”

“We have had an amazing season – it won’t get any better, enjoy it. This is good as it can get.”

“We have got to try again next year. We have got to improve the squad and go again next time but no one can complain at what they’ve seen.”

“Anyone who has got any brains will know it’s been an amazing season at Tottenham and that we’ve played great football. Anyone that does not enjoy it should go and support someone else.”