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

Mar 6 2009 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

“The fans have been at work all day, or they’re spending their day off following us, and the last thing they want is to come and watch a dreary game, they want to come and be entertained and watch attacking football and I think they got that on Wednesday.”

Southampton will not be the pushovers they might have been a few weeks back, when the battle against relegation looked forlorn.

They have won their last three games – something Blues haven’t done since November.

Carsley said: “We are going to be showing Southampton a lot of respect.

“They are a decent enough team. They gave us a doing down there in the Carling Cup, and they played well against us in the league when we won.

“We will talk about making sure we don’t underestimate them but building on Bristol also.”

Carsley paid tribute to Blues resolve and determination to make light of injury problems.

Eight players are currently sidelined and Garry O’Connor still to be involved in the 16 for the first time since October.

“I wouldn’t say we’ve suffered more than any other club, but it seems to be that the players who get injured are our most important ones,” he stated.

“I think if you took Ebanks-Blake and Kightly out of the Wolves side, you would see a different team.

“We’ve lost Kevin Phillips, James McFadden – big players for us – for a long period of time.”

Carsley said that there could still yet be some twists and turns before the Championship pecking order was decided.

“I just think the way this season has gone, with teams at the bottom beating those at the top, there’s still going to be a few ups and downs before we see where we’re at.

‘‘It’s crazy. We’re not allowed to bet but I don’t think I’d do a coupon in this league.”