Ridgewell driven by relegation fear

Birmingham City defender Liam Ridgewell is still driven by fear of the drop and rejected suggestions the team are safe from relegation.

Blues travel to West Ham tomorrow on a high following their last gasp win over Wolves on Sunday, which put them on 37 points and left them eighth in the Premier League.

They are 16 points clear of the drop zone but Ridgewell, who went down with Blues in 2008, insists they are not safe yet.

He said: "People might say we're safe but you're not until you're mathematically safe. There a lot of players here who got relegated last time and no one wants to feel that again so until no one can catch us we're not safe.

"There's still that fear, you don't want to get relegated but we're playing with confidence to make sure we don't. We're on 37 points which is a good tally and we're a lot of points above the bottom three.

"If Wolves had won on Sunday they would have closed the pack up below us. It was a good win."

Sunday's win kept them in touch with the top seven and a possible Europa League spot and Ridgewell believes Blues must get used to the fact they are becoming a top flight scalp.

He said: "I think teams fear us. They didn't when we first came up, they thought we might have been an easy team to beat but people should know better than that now and hopefully we can get a lot more wins.

"Teams get people behind the ball and the reputation we've got we have to expect it. It's up to us to break them down."

With the trip to the Hammers tomorrow, ex-West Ham trainee Ridgewell admits the game will be a battle, with the hosts fighting against the drop.

He said: "They're going to be scrapping for goals and a win. At home they've got a good crowd and they'll be right behind them. We've got to go there and keep our wits about us.

"Every derby is big and everyone wants to come away winning and, with two goals right at the death, it's always a bigger boost.

"It was a good win, we're pleased and can take the confidence to West Ham."