MIKAEL Forssell has urged Blues for more of the same when they face Fulham at St Andrew's on Saturday.

The 3-0 victory over Middlesbrough yesterday provided the perfect pick-me-up for Alex McLeish's men. Having lost so badly to fellow basement battlers Bolton Wanderers, Blues knew nothing but a win would do.

Now they can concentrate on another key game, the Cottagers' visit.

"It was a complete contrast to Bolton, and it had to be," said Forssell, who got his second goal in as many starts. "That's what the manager said to us afterwards. He gave us Christmas Day off, which was nice, but he wanted a reaction (to Bolton).

"It was a show of faith from him to us, he could have changed it around a lot and brought new people in, but he didn't and we paid him back.

"I have to say we have got difficult games coming up in January - Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal. So if we can get three points on Saturday against Fulham, then that would be fantastic.

"That's what we have to aim for. Like Middlesbrough, they are around us in the table. We are strong at home, the crowd were excellent, so let's keep this going.

"We must play the same way, with the same intensity and attack."

Forssell poached Blues' second moments before half-time. It was the first time Blues had held a two-goal advantage all season.

It helped relax them, he admitted, and put the pressure on Middlesbrough to do the chasing.

"It does make a massive difference," said the striker. "Second half our performance dropped a little bit. We didn't play the best football in the world, but it was about the result and it was a very solid performance after the break."

McLeish returned to 4-4-2 at home, and Forssell said he relished the fact Blues were given licence to attack.

"I'm happy about that. Being very attack-minded, I like it that we go forward, we pass, we try to score goals.

"I know we don't have to create the perfect goal - go out wide, get a cross in, and score - but if we keep pressing, pressing, pressing, then things will happen.

"And the more balls you get into the box, the more you are prepared to attack, the more the chances are going to fall and drop for you."

Forssell has now registered four league goals, and yesterday's was another sniffed out from point-blank range.

"I will take anything," he said. "People know what type of goals I can score. I tried one of my tricks - I did a bit of ninja feet - and came close, so hopefully it will come again. But yesterday's, that was great. It helped the team, it helped us win."

The partnership between Forssell and Cameron Jerome is still in its infancy. They have only played alongside one another four times so far this campaign.

But, as the signs pointed to in pre-season, it seems to be the most effective. Forssell said: "Garry O'Connor is a great player but unfortunately for him he hasn't had a chance to get a start.

"I think what the manager is looking for is for Cameron to go on forward using his pace and me to hold the ball up and create something in and around the box.

"I think there has always been an understanding between us and it's getting better and better.

"We also have to work defensively. "When we play 4-4-2, when we haven't got the ball the manager wants one of the strikers to drop into midfield and, sometimes, for me and Cammy, it's a new thing.

"We have got to make it so it becomes a habit and, in a way, it actually saves more energy because we don't have to chase full-backs.

"We are getting used to it, and yesterday it worked."