Birmingham City: Lee Carsley issues rally cry ahead of vital game

Mar 6 2009 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

LEE Carsley today urged Blues to finish the season off in the manner they went about beating Bristol City.

For the first time in several weeks Blues fans took an optimistic, if cautious, view after the display on Wednesday.

And Carsley said it was down to the players to reproduce such a vibrant performance tomorrow at home to Southampton, and in the games beyond, to ensure the fans fully bought back into the quest for promotion.

“It was just what we needed,” said the captain. “I think our performances of late have been a little bit better, but without us getting the results.

“It was a good, all-round performance. Perhaps it has been coming. We really are at a crucial stage now. Obviously our goal was to be up and around the top at the start of the season, and we are in a good position. People have got to remember that we are second in the table so at some point we have done all right.

“It’s just a case of finishing the season off like we played against Bristol.

“We’ve definitely got to build on it. The night before, I sat in the house watching the results come in (Wolves and Reading got back to winning ways), for a lot of the lads the penny may have dropped now that it’s time to kick in.”

Carsley added his view on the favourable reception from the fans, who provided noisy backing, and have been asked to do the same for the Saints visit.

“I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been lifted by the crowd, and the other night was one of them,’ he said.

“That’s the St Andrew’s I remember, coming here with other teams and playing against those Blues fans, who can be intimidating and the difference between us going up and making it difficult for ourselves. It’s down to us. The way they see us starting the game – people chasing lost causes – they feed off that.