Birmingham City: Latest News and Overall Performance
The Blues manager, Alex McLeish has revealed that his loan signing from Barcelona Alexander Hleb was "embarrassed" after being dropped from the shock win over Barclays Premier League title holders Chelsea.
But McLeish stressed that no footballer has a divine right to be part of the team whatever his class or calibre. The former Arsenal player has not been fully fit since joining Birmingham on loan from Barcelona last summer.
Hleb was restored to the side and featured against Fulham last weekend which ended up in a draw. The Barcelona midfielder was impressive against Fulham but unfortunately suffered a hamstring injury.
The Blues manager said, "I've repeatedly told him (Hleb) that he is not fit enough to start games. He was disappointed not to start against Chelsea. He thought it was a slight and was a bit embarrassed by that. A top player thinks he can just walk into the
team - but it doesn't work like that."
Last night, Birmingham City defeated their city rivals in the quarter final of Carling Cup by two goals to one and are now through to the semi finals of the competition. Blues will face another Premier League outfit West Ham United in the last four round
of League Cup. West Ham thrashed Premier League's only unbeaten side, Manchester United by four goals recently. Birmingham City will visit West Ham for the first leg of the semi-finals.
It is for the first time in nine years that Birmingham City have managed to qualify for the semi-finals of League Cup. The first leg of semi-finals will be played on 10th January 2011.
Birmingham City are currently at 15th spot on the table with seventeen points out of 15 Premier League matches. Blues' recent form has not been impressive as they have won only once out of six matches with four draws and a loss. Birmingham’s away
form has also been the worst in top flight English football. They have played eight away matches so far in this season and failed to win even a single one. Out of these, Birmingham have drawn five and lost three.
However, they shocked the world with their inspiring one nil victory over Chelsea at home. Birmingham’s current number one goalkeeper Ben Foster performed extremely well in that match and kept the Premier League champions at bay by keeping a clean sheet.
Birmingham’s recent home form has been quite impressive as they have lost only one match in their last six home matches along with that the Blues managed two wins and three draws. Overall at St. Andrews, they have played seven matches out of which have won
three, drawn three and lost one.
After an exciting draw against Fulham last week, Birmingham City will welcome north London side, Tottenham Hotspur for the sixteenth round of Premier League on Saturday at St. Andrews. The Birmingham outfit would look to give Spurs a tough time. A win will
see them in the top half of the Premier League table.
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