McLeish: Teams will gun for us

Tuesday 17th June 2008, 9:42AM BST.

mcleish2.jpegBirmingham manager Alex McLeish has warned his side ahead of their return to the Championship: “Teams will be out to get you.”

The Blues open their 2008/09 campaign with a tough home game against Sheffield United at St Andrews on August 9.

Yet it is at St Andrews where McLeish has prospered most, having lost just once since he arrived as manager in November 2007.

A potential banana skin in the Carling Cup follows at League Two Wycombe, with a trip to Southampton and a home game against Barnsley in close proximity.

All represent games the Blues could slip up in and McLeish warns it will not get any easier.

He said: “Every team we come up against throughout the season will want to beat us.

“Many of them will see us as a real scalp if they can get one over on us, and it’s our job to make sure that doesn’t happen.

“Regardless of who we are playing we need to be on top of our game, and if we do that I’m confident we will get results.

“It’s going to be a hectic campaign – the games do come thick and fast in the Championship.

“You pretty much play three matches most weeks in the Championship, but that’s the way it is.

“Come 9 August we’ll be ready and right up for the challenge.”


  1. 1
    Happy_baggie

    A team relegated after one poor season is hardley a “scalp” is it ??

    I don’t remember anyone at Watford saying this last year – just the blouses and their over inflated sense of self importance….

    They have already sold their best player so i think there will be plenty of bigger clubs whooping the blues next season.

    Report abuse

  2. 2
    Dave

    “Every team we come up against throughout the season will want to beat us.”
    Really Alex? I thought teams would play you and want to lose(!)

    Report abuse

  3. 3
    Cheltenham Wolf

    I never did understand why Birmingham City has such sence of self-importance. I mean, Birmingham City, who are they? A club that has never won any major honours and before they were bought by a pair of playboys very few people knew who they were.

    Report abuse

  4. 4
    Filtonwolf (Bristol)

    I thought that the general idea was that one side should try to beat the other !! Perhaps Mr McLeish thinks that because his poor little lambs were so horribly relegated last season that all the championship sides should take this in to consideration and treat them with kindness and not be too hard on them….yeah right !! Grow up Mr McLeish and come back down to earth and reality – the sky on your planet must have a very funny coloured sky !!

    Report abuse

  5. 5
    Fenwolf

    Big Ec??? Big Clown more like! Sounds like he’s bracing himself for a season of under achievement. Has this bloke been to the same PR school as Mick McCarthy?

    Report abuse

  6. 6
    Loyal-Cannock-Wolf

    Small Heath? Who are they?

    Report abuse

  7. 7
    upthewolves

    BCFC a real scalp? LMFAO, my god what a idiot McGlown is. made my day that.

    Report abuse



Free e-Supplements

Business Awards

Book a Business Awards table Book a Business Awards table

Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now

Lifestyle

Interactive Dining Out map Interactive Dining Out map

Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.

entertainment

All the film reviews All the film reviews

Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases

OUR NEW APP

Get the new E&S app Get the new E&S app

Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.