Blues boss sees six-pointers ahead
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish believes Bolton at home is the sort of game his side ultimately need to win if they are to survive in the Premier League this season.
Blues host Gary Megson's side tomorrow (3pm) looking to build on last Saturday's moral-boosting 1-0 win at free-falling Hull, but face the Trotters again without a number of key players.
Marcus Bent, Cameron Jerome, James McFadden, David Murphy, Franck Queudrue and Martin Taylor are all still out, while Stuart Parnaby is doubtful with a knee problem.
But McLeish can at least call upon five players absent from the skeletal squad which bowed out of the Carling Cup at Sunderland, with loan signing Teemu Tainio raring to go after being cup-tied against his parent club on Tuesday night.
Stephen Carr, Lee Carsley, Sebastian Larsson and Gregory Vignal are also all back in contention.
Now the manager has told them they need to carry on beating the teams who are likely to be down there with them if a relegation struggle ensuses, of which Bolton fit the bill.
McLeish said: "Trying to win these games is very important. We can't just say 'it's the start of the season,' because we've got to be really up for it.
"Bolton are a difficult side to beat. They play in a certain way and have some quality players in their ranks.
"They've a lot of terrific players at Bolton and they are a much more experienced Premier League team than my Birmingham team are."
