McLeish: We´re on a roll

Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish has warned his players are on a roll going into Saturday’s game at Blackburn.

Last weekend’s 2-1 win over Bolton has created a real buzz in the relegation-threatened squad and McLeish said the players cannot wait to get out on the Ewood Park pitch.

The home win was their first victory since the League Cup Final and ended a run of just one point from three games.

“There is no doubt morale has been much better after the win last weekend,” McLeish said.

“It was a big game, a big win for us, and you’ve got to hand it to the players because there was a lot of pressure on them last week.”

“I sensed there was something different last week.”

“We did some talking in the week before in the preparation, as well as work on the training ground and thankfully we didn’t leave it in the dressing room.”

“As Big Ron Atkinson always says ‘don’t tell me, show me’ and it was a case of that.”

“All the talking stops and these guys have got to go over the line and show no sign of nerves and show that they have no fear.”

McLeish wants his players to end the season playing in the same manner that they did last week.

“For me last Saturday we set the standard and we have to keep playing with that kind of application,” he said.

“The players passed a mental test with that one and it is important to build on that win.”

“We go to Blackburn where they are looking to try and get the points that will secure safety.”

“They’ve got a home game, so they will feel they’ve got an advantage, so we need to go to there and play the way we did against Bolton, with the same approach, baring our teeth a little bit rather than the insipid stuff I got at Wigan.”

Birmingham will be without defender Scott Dann (hamstring) and strikers Nikola Zigic (groin), James McFadden (knee) and Obafemi Martins (groin).