´We will make if tough for Spurs´ – McLeish

Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish has often received criticism for his team’s style of play but he is now trying to build a more attractive style.

The former Scotland manager was also raving about the free flowing football that Saturday’s opponents Tottenham Hotspur play.

“Spurs are a good side,” said Big Eck, ahead of the match.

“Harry is a great character and fantastic manager in the way he’s got his teams to play football over the years.”

“He brings quality players to all his clubs and plays in a style that is very appealing to fans of Spurs and neutrals alike.””I think they’re definitely capable of finishing top four. It will depend on injuries. They lost van der Vaart last week.”

“I was hoping they’d lose about five or six more but unfortunately there’s going to be a strong Spurs side against us tomorrow and he knows that to get to top four or win the Premier League you have to go to tough places like Birmingham and win games.”

“But we’ll be making it very difficult for them and we hope Harry’s going down the road tomorrow night saying it’s a tough place to go.”

Spurs are unlikely to be given any time on the ball at St Andrews.

McLeish explained: “At home we always feel that we get the tempo high and get the fans right behind us, intimidate the opposition, make them apprehensive – give the home players the energy.”

“That’s always been our kind off mantra in the way we go about things at this club and it’s worked for us so I don’t see any reason to change that.”

Former Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb will not be fit after getting back to his best last weekend at Fulham.

The Blues boss said: “He’s got a grade one hamstring injury and it will keep him out for about three weeks.”There are one or two little niggles but as is usually the case with players when they’re winning football matches they don’t want to miss out on the next one and they drag themselves off the treatment table.

“The only thing I have to consider really is probably the rotation and keeping players fresh. There are one or two that maybe won’t start that started the other night against Aston Villa.”