Birmingham City: McLeish is calling on fan power

Oct 23 2009 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

ALEX McLeish has outlined Blues’ intention to praise Steve Bruce – then bury him and his Sunderland side.

Bruce returns to St Andrew’s for the first time since leaving for Wigan Athletic in November 2007.

He spent a month shy of six years in the Blues hot seat and took the club to new heights in modern times.

McLeish, while respectful of Bruce’s contribution, said he preferred matters to be all about the current Blues, with Carson Yeung taking his bow in front of the home faithful tomorrow as well.

“I think Steve should get a nice polite clap from the St Andrew’s crowd and then the fans have got to get right on to the Sunderland players’ backs after that, be relentless and get back to the type of fans Steve inherited when he came to Birmingham,” said McLeish.

Colin Tattum and Andy Walker will be live online at St Andrew's tomorrow at 2.30pm for live match coverage and banter - join in the fun at www.birminghammail.net/live 

“At that particular time the Birmingham fans were notorious for their vociferous support for the home team and also the way they maybe unsettled the away team.

“So looking for Steve, Eric Black and big Nigel Spink to get a nice welcome when they come down the track then that part of the game is over and it’s about supporting the Blues.

“It’s a new era, a new owner and fans have been a little bit doom and gloom the past wee while and it’s time to get back to the type of support that they are notorious for.”

Bruce was Blues’ longest-serving post-war manager and McLeish admitted that he would love to clock up that kind of service.

“Steve’s where he is just now because he did a good job at Birmingham,’’ he said.

“I’d like to think that if I can last as long as Steve, then we will have been doing something right here.”

And the Sunderland template – being prepared to speculate to accumulate – has its merit.