Birmingham City v Wolves: Keith Downing insists both sides are good enough to go up
Apr 6 2009 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail
KEITH Downing believes that both Blues and Wolves will be celebrating come May – as Premier League clubs.
Downing, an ex-Molineux favourite whose subsequent move to Blues was ruined by injury, reckons that whatever the outcome tonight, the Midland rivals should still win promotion.
“I think it’s going to be a very tight game, very tight,” said the former combative midfielder, who went by the nickname of ‘Psycho’ at Wolves.
“Wolves beat Blues in the FA Cup at St Andrew’s, but that was quite close, and in the league at Molineux, Blues probably shaded it for 45 minutes to an hour before Wolves finished quite strongly to draw.
“I know Alex McLeish has said this game isn’t the be-all and end-all, that nothing will be decided after it.
“But he knows that Blues really have to win it and although Mick McCarthy would never say it, I’m sure he would take the draw.
“If Wolves win, then it would virtually confirm promotion for them. They would definitely be favourites to win the league. But if Blues can get to within a couple of points, then it’s all still to play for. Personally, I’d love to see them both go up – and I think both will.
“Reading have been dropping off the pace a bit and they’ve had some funny results, and they’ve got quite a hard run-in.
“Wolves have got that gap on them and the other teams chasing, and I think they’ve come through their difficult period and defensively have now become quite strong.
