McLeish pleads for Birmingham calm

Manager Alex McLeish has called for calm ahead of Birmingham’s trip to Blackpool, telling his men not to panic about their league position.

McLeish’s men lost 3-0 at home to Arsenal on Saturday and face a Blackpool side that has stunned the English Premier League this season.

Birmingham enjoyed an impressive campaign back in the top flight last season but find themselves in the relegation zone this time around, though McLeish is not overly concerned.

He said: “We still feel we can get points against anyone at St. Andrew’s. Certainly it would be nice to pick up points on our away travels.”

“We picked up 17 on our travels last season but we’ve still picked up some very important ones away from home and, with a bit of luck, we should have collected all three in a couple of other games.”

“People get paranoid just looking at the position and thinking we are doomed because it is not quite like that yet.”

McLeish, who said he will rotate his squad for the trip to Bloomfield Road as he tries to contend with the hectic schedule, paid tribute to Ian Holloway for the job he has done at Blackpool.

“I think they have surprised everyone,” said McLeish. “I don’t think there is any way you can avoid saying something like that because they’ve kept it going.”

“Ian has changed his managerial philosophies, he said this time he was going to go for it and credit to him, he has done that.”

McLeish has no fresh injury worries as he looks to rotate his squad. Alexander Hleb could start at Blackpool, though McLeish has worries about his fitness over 90 minutes.

Lee Bowyer could face a suspension for up to six games following his stamp on Bacary Sagna’s thigh on Saturday, but it looks like any action that may be taken will be in effect after the Blackpool game.