Derby day a barometer for McLeish

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish has admitted next weekend's Second City derby will be the acid test of how far his team have progressed.

Blues head to Villa Park for Sunday's eagerly-anticipated lunch-time kick-off, for the first time since their 5-1 drubbing at the hands of their big rivals in 2008.

It was a result that pushed Blues a step closer to relegation from the Premier League, but this time they are sitting pretty in the top half of the table with their top-flight status already secured.

And manager McLeish warns his side, already beaten 1-0 at St Andrew's this season by a late Gabby Agbonlahor goal, will be gunning for revenge.

He said: "We've come a long way since then, there is no doubt about that. Two years ago was a learning curve for us all, it was very clearly a team that was weak in terms of mental toughness, quality, spirit and character.

"We went to Villa Park a bit too brave and maybe I should have played it a bit more cautious. Tactics are important as well in these games.

"To be fair, when we looked at the game again Villa had a couple of decisions that went their way and the offside situations.

"We want to go back there and try to atone for that. But we have come an enormous distance since then."

Birmingham attacker James McFadden also faces a race to be fit for Sunday, after being forced off in Saturday's goalless draw with Hull.

McLeish said: "Is he a doubt? I don't know. He has had a groin problem, it's a bit chronic.

"You could see he was struggling just after half-time, which is why we made the substitution."