James McFadden praises Birmingham City FC fans

Apr 9 2009 by Andy Walker, Birmingham Mail

JAMES McFadden believes Blues would be champions-elect if St Andrew’s had been rocking all season.

The vast majority of the Blues squad were pleasantly surprised with the partisan atmosphere that greeted them during the derby victory over Wolves on Monday night.

For several players it was the first time that they had witnessed St Andrew’s at its hostile best and many underestimated the difference a bumper crowd in B9 makes.

The 25,935 attendance was the best of the season, beating the crowd that watched the opening day victory over Sheffield United by almost 2,000.

McFadden, who made his return from a knee injury against Wolves, was one such player who praised the Bluenose backing on Monday.

And the Scotland international has even gone as far as saying that Blues would now be comfortable Championship leaders had they received similar support from St Andrew’s throughout this season.

“It was a great result against Wolves and the fans were excellent,” said McFadden, who described the Wolves victory as a ‘job done’.

“I said to a few of the boys that if the fans had been like that all season I don’t think we would be in the position we are in, I think we’d be miles clear at the top.