Blues accept FA charge after derby

Birmingham today accepted a Football Association charge of failing to ensure spectators did not enter the field of play following the Carling Cup match against Villa.

The club were charged after fans entered the pitch to celebrate the quarter-final win over their rivals at St Andrew's on December 1, before goading Villa fans in front of the away fans' section.

Blues have accepted the charge and will have an FA hearing scheduled for March 28.

And defender Curtis Davies has stressed the need for Blues to beat their fellow strugglers if they are to ensure Premier League survival - starting with Saturday's clash at Wigan.

Alex McLeish's side are now able to turn their attention fully to the battle to stay up after winning the Carling Cup and reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Blues have achieved some notable results against the leading sides this season, most notably a home win over champions Chelsea.

But Davies said: "You would say that we need four more wins but I think the most important thing is to beat the teams around you.

"We lost to West Brom a couple of weeks ago and it catapulted them up the league and kept us down there.

"If you beat the teams around you, it gives you a bit of breathing space because, at the moment, a lot of them are getting good results."