Birmingham City - Alex McLeish bans the 'R' word
Nov 16 2010 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail
ALEX McLeish says the ‘R’ word should not be uttered around St Andrew’s.
The Birmingham City boss insists the time to worry would be if his side were in the same predicament when the season reaches the business end.
Blues are third from bottom in the Premier League, in the drop zone for the first time since they were relegated in May 2009.
But they are three points from tenth-placed Stoke City, who were only clear of the mire courtesy of goal difference a fortnight ago.
It certainly doesn’t help Blues’ cause that their next opponents are leaders Chelsea, who will be no doubt smarting after Sunderland’s stunning 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Yet Blues secured a fine draw at Manchester City themselves last weekend and McLeish says they still have plenty about them.
“You can say we’re in trouble but we had just two points more after 13 games last season,’’ he said.
“We are staying positive and it was a very good result for us at Man City. The league is very, very competitive. Bolton are stealing a march on the teams round about maybe they thought they were competing with, they have done tremendously.
“But it is still all to play for. It’s topsy-turvy. Teams have overtaken each other. You find yourself down the bottom of the league and everybody gets paranoid and panics, ‘oh, we shouldn’t be there, it’s a disgrace, it’s this and it’s that’.
“But as far as I’m aware the Premier League is decided in May.
