Alex McLeish expects goal difference to be key

Mar 21 2008 By Colin Tattum

ALEX McLeish has stressed the importance of Birmingham City maintaining a goal difference that is superior to their fellow basement battlers.

Although the goals for and against ratio is a negative - minus 12 - it is better than all the other clubs up to 12th place Wigan Athletic.

Wigan avoided relegation via goal difference on the final day last season, minus 22 to Sheffield United's minus 23.

And Blues have the same number of points as Sunderland but are above them because they do not get thumped and ship goals.

"We have always been conscious of that," said the manager. "We haven't been prolific in terms of shut-outs but we haven't conceded too many goals in games. No-one has really cut their way through us."

Blues have kept just three clean sheets - the last on Boxing Day - the joint worst mark, with Derby County, in the division.

They have scored more goals - 34 - than all of their relegation rivals apart from Reading.

Blues have only lost by a two-goal margin or more on six occasions.