SINCE their return to top-flight football, Birmingham City have made a habit of raising their games against the best teams.

At St Andrew’s over the past 18 months, the big guns have been spiked.

Only one of the top five Premier League teams, plus Liverpool, have beaten them on their home patch.

And that was, ominously, Wembley opponents Arsenal, on New Year’s Day.

Usually, Blues have not been fazed by those staring across at them on the other side of the pitch.

And nor has the big game got to them.

The Carling Cup final could be a different kettle of fish.

“There are players in the Blues team who have got experience,” Paul Tait noted.

“Barry Ferguson has played in the Old Firm, internationals and massive European games. Lee Bowyer’s been in a European Cup semi-final.

“Ben Foster, Stephen Carr and Nikola Zigic have played in the World Cup finals.

“But there are also a lot of our players who haven’t got that kind of experience under their belts.