St Andrew´s is our fortress: McLeish

Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish has hailed St Andrews as a fortress ahead of Arsenal’s visit to the Midlands club on Saturday.

The Blues snatched a late goal at home to Manchester United in midweek to earn a point and also recorded a famous victory against champions Chelsea on their own turf earlier in the season.

“We have a good record here and have got a reputation of making it tough for people,” said the Scot.

“Wenger said that himself last time he was here and that is music to our ears. Sir Alex Ferguson has said it and we’ve got to maintain that reputation at this place.”

Despite a string of excellent defensive performances from Birmingham this term, they have struggled for goals, a factor which has seen McLeish’s side fall to 17th.

“It is the lack of finishing that has seen us not winning games,” McLeish admitted.

“We’ve drawn a lot but we have got to start taking our chances to get us further up the table.”

“That is why we are where we are – we haven’t played badly at all. I’m getting everything out of the lads but we just haven’t taken our chances.”

McLeish is optimistic despite their lowly position with only six points separating 10 teams in the league.

“If the first half of the season is anything to go by then it looks like it will be tight,” he added.

“If we take six points, two wins back to back, all of a sudden we are in the European places.”

Midfielder Alexander Hleb has recovered from a hamstring injury and could be in line to start against his former club, and McLeish believes the Belarusian is the man to haul Birmingham up the table.

“We are looking for Alex to come into the team and make a difference,” he said.

“You see his balance on the ball. He looks fantastic when he is running with the ball and making space and openings.”