McLeish believes in Blues survival

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish insists his side’s belief will be key if they are to avoid the Premier League drop.

Blues host Blackburn tomorrow, while relegation rivals Fulham will be at Portsmouth and Reading face Derby, with two of the three set to go down.

“It is all about confidence,” said McLeish.

“They’ve got to have the belief and the evidence is there for them to look at from the games we have played at home. That should give them the belief.”

Blues play a Blackburn side aiming for a win to enhance their Intertoto Cup hopes in what appears the toughest fixture out of the trio battling for survival.

Derby have not won since Paul Jewell took over last November, while Fulham travel to a Portsmouth side who will have one eye on the FA Cup final on 17 May.

McLeish met Rams boss Paul Jewell at a function during the week and he said: “I said to Paul ‘you’ve got to win one, come on, you have to via the law of averages’.”

McLeish admitted that it will be hard not to be keeping abreast of what is going on in the matches involving Fulham and Reading. Bolton could also be relegated by a bizarre turn of results and they play title-chasing Chelsea.

“You just won’t be able to avoid what is going on. People have their radios on and we will be getting messages,” McLeish added.