Spurs visit underlines Birmingham progress

Harry Redknapp underlined the remarkable job carried out by Alex McLeish this season when he observed recently that Birmingham could not be discounted in the race for a top four finish in the Premier League.

It was not something the Tottenham boss would have said when the two clubs met at White Hart Lane back in August, at which point McLeish’s squad were still seen as more likely candidates for relegation than European football.

McLeish would surely walk the manager of the year award if the season were to finish now and, although Chelsea ended Birmingham’s 15-match unbeaten run in midweek, Tottenham know they face a serious test when the two clubs resume hostilities at St Andrews on Saturday.

An added time winner from England winger Aaron Lennon secured the points for Spurs in the first meeting and their defender Sebastien Bassong admitted he had been surprised how well Birmingham have done since.

“I think a lot of people are very surprised about what they’ve done, but if they’re in this position after more than 20 games then maybe they deserve this position,” Bassong said. “They’re playing well and they’ve got no pressure, so it’s a good time for them.”

The defender added: “We saw how difficult they are to beat earlier in the season at White Hart Lane. Aaron scored the winning goal in the 95th minute or something, and I think it’s going to be the same type of game again. But we played well on Tuesday (in a 2-0 win over Fulham) and we will try to do the same on Saturday.”

Tottenham, who go into the match sitting in fourth place in the table, are hoping to have completed the loan signing of Eidur Gudjohnsen from Monaco by Saturday although it appeared unlikely the Icelandic forward would be involved at St Andrews.

McLeish is also battling to add a high-profile signing to his ranks before the transfer window slams shut, with Spurs misfit Roman Pavyluchenko and Lens striker Aruna Dindane among his potential targets.

He was promised up to 40 million pounds by Hong Kong tycoon Carson Yeung but has only recruited two midfielders – Craig Gardner and Miguel Marcos Michel – so far, to the tune of around five million.

It promises to be a interesting few days for the former Scotland coach, who has made no secret of his desire to bring in at least one forward.

“I’ve given the board a couple of names, and I’m hoping they will get something done for us,” he said. “The strikers need help. Kevin Phillips has a small injury and we need to add something to help the others because we’ll burn them out playing these guys every week of the season.

“I’m fearful they will lose a little edge if we do, so an extra striker would spice things up a wee bit.”

McLeish admitted that his side faces a test of character after the end of their unbeaten run. “It’s a new challenge for them because they have not been in this position for a long time,” he said.

“It’s now how they react.

“We knew that someday we would drop points and we have gone over old experiences.

“Manchester United have gone on unbeaten runs knowing that one day they would lose. It’s coping with that and not beating up ourselves over the Chelsea defeat.

“The good thing about the Chelsea game was that afterwards I could see in the dressing room that the players were really upset and cared. You can tell a player’s character when you get that sort of reaction.

“We haven’t achieved anything. They say pride comes before a fall so we do not want to be thumping the drums until we have done something.

“The Chelsea game was a little reminder that we still have some hard work ahead of us. I do not judge my team over a season on what happened at Stamford Bridge.”