McLeish plays down talk of Europe

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish has moved to silence talk of a European challenge after his team set a new club record against Manchester United.

Blues made it 12 top flight games unbeaten – 13 in all competitions – with a battling 1-1 draw on Saturday to move level on points with seventh placed Liverpool in the Premier League.

But McLeish still insists his side cannot start dreaming about Europe.

He said: "There are seven clubs there is no way anyone else will get near by the end of the season. There are probably five or six we've no right to be above as well and that's why it is important to keep the expectation at a level where we won't get carried away.

"The top four will be threatened by others but not by us, it'll be Manchester City, Spurs and Villa."

Scott Dann's own goal salvaged a point for United, after Cameron Jerome opened the scoring against the run of play at St Andrew's.

Despite the hype his team are creating, McLeish isn't concerned about breaking records.

He said: "I don't really look at statistics. I just look at trying to get a result for the team and the club on the day and if we break records, that is great. But it is not something I actively look at.

"To go 12 games unbeaten is terrific, but I've said that one day we will be beaten in the Premier League and that's a fact.

"We have to do all we can in ensuring we can always finish a game the way we did on Saturday, being proud of our performances and making the opposition feel they've been in a hell of a game.

"We did that against the champions."

McLeish, who will complete the £3million signing of Michel once the Sporting Gijon midfielder passes a medical in the next 24 hours, reckons there is a winning mentality among his squad.

He said: "The points against the top teams are bonuses for us but we have every right not to fear anyone, we are entitled not to fear anyone because of our performances.

"The evidence is there. The players have now got that in their mentality. They have turned the corner."