Birmingham City vs Blackpool: Nikola Zigic looking to win over home fans - Ian Holloway wary of his opponents
A Premier League match between Birmingham City and Blackpool may not be the most mouth watering of encounters for the neutrals, but rest assured that both teams have their own agendas to settle this weekend.
For instance, the 6 foot 6 inch Birmingham striker, Nikola Zigic has his own incentives to gain from this game and he has vowed to win over the Birmingham fans.
The giant striker was signed in the summer by manager Alex McLeish for a sum of 6 million pounds, but so far he hasn't been able to find his feet in the English game. However, the front man believes that Spanish football that he was earlier playing, is quite
different from the English game, and so, he needed some time to get used to it. Now, he is all but ready to show what he can actually do.
Zigic wasn't received well by the home fans 2 weeks back, when he was sent on as a substitute in the match against Everton. The reason behind that may be that 6 million pounds is a massive amount of money for a club like Birmingham to spend, and the fans
are definitely looking to get more out of their international import.
But, Zigic didn't seem bothered as he gave a good reply by breaking his duck in English football. The manager gave him a start last weekend and he obliged by putting the ball in the back of the net against Arsenal. Now, Zigic wants to do the same in front
of the home fans, who he knows still need to be convinced.
While talking to the media ahead of the match, the Serbian striker said, "I still feel I do have to work a bit harder to win the fans over. I do try my hardest all the time and I will continue to do so. Hopefully, more and more will get on my side as I play
better and score more goals. But I do feel I have to (produce) a little bit more from myself.”
The player went on to say that he understands the importance of being part of a club in England and also the fact that English fans tend to be directly involved with their clubs. He wants to be loved and liked by them as one of their own. After scoring his
first goal and getting the monkey off his back, the front man stated that it sure was great to finally get one in, but that has to be first of many and his confidence has taken a new height after that.
Meanwhile, Blackpool's manager, Ian Holloway admitted that the form that Birmingham have shown in recent games gives them an edge in the match. He said that Birmingham is something of an example for teams like his own, who have just been promoted to the
big time.
Last season, Birmingham managed to finish in their best 9th place, and that was due to their home form where they lost just 2 games in the whole season. But, this season has not been the same for the blue side as their unbeaten home record, which
had been going on for more than a year, was finally ended by Everton, last week. They have won just one game this season that was against Blackburn.
Holloway though must be delighted that fitness wise his team is probably one of the best in the league. The manager would have almost all of his 25 players to choose from. Holloway stated that it sure is a great thing, but at the same time it does give him
a headache of who to leave out.
Birmingham should go in as favourites in this game, but not to forget that Blackpool also managed to beat Liverpool this season and their confidence must be sky high.
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