We´ll bounce back, says Birmingham boss McLeish

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish insisted on Monday that his side would bounce back from the 5-1 mauling by city rivals Aston Villa and avoid relegation from the Premiership.

The former Rangers and Scotland manager said that the fightback must start at home to Liverpool next Saturday as Birmingham are presently third from bottom with just three matches remaining.

“We knew it would come down to the last three games,” admitted McLeish, who almost guided Scotland to the Euro 2008 finals before stepping down.

“We have made ourselves difficult to beat at St Andrews (Birmingham’s ground) and that is what we need to do now against Liverpool.”

McLeish, though, is confident that his side will react well to the savaging they received at the hands of Villa.

“What has been evident in this team is that we are capable of bouncing back and we can do it again,” he said.

“I always thought it would come down to the last three games and nothing has changed.

“I am sure our fans will be embarrassed by the defeat by Villa – I don’t like it, the players don’t like it. We were on the end of a bruising from a really good Villa side.

“We will see what kind of reaction we get.”

Birmingham, who are a point adrift of Reading and Bolton, play fellow relegation threatened side Fulham after the Liverpool clash and round off their campaign against Blackburn on May 11.