Update : Birmingham City and Blackpool
BIRMINGHAM CITY
The Blues manager says the pitch invasion which took place after his team’s win over their fierce rivals Aston Villa in the Carling Cup quarterfinal was unbecoming of a big club. More than a thousand home
supporters ran onto the pitch after Birmingham’s two-one victory over Aston Villa. Several fans were arrested after many seats were ripped out and a flare was thrown leaving Birmingham in danger of being heavily fined.
However, Alex McLeish felt that his fans had made the club look very small with their actions. Alex McLeish said: "We have to be bigger than that. We have to not have the small club mentality. The scenes
were like when Hereford beat Newcastle in the cup a few years ago and the fans ran on at the end, and that's fine. Our fans don't need to do that. We should be bigger than that. Definitely celebrate it but don't make it look as if it's the World Cup final.
It's a kind of phenomenon for us that we've beaten them and we've got to think bigger than that. It's a huge thing for our fans. I don't condone them running on at all but I understand their emotions. Running onto the pitch is just a no-go in modern day football."
The Blues are one of the three Premier League teams, which are through to the semifinals of the Carling Cup. Birmingham City will face Premier League outfit West Ham United in the semifinal of the League
Cup. The first leg of this tie will be played at West Ham’s home on the 10th of January. The second semifinal of the Carling Cup will be played between Arsenal and Ipswich Town.
Birmingham City lost their last match against their local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers by one goal. Birmingham City are currently placed at 16th position with 18 points to their name out of
17 Premier League games. Moreover, Birmingham City have played 9 away matches and have not won a single away fixture so far in this season. Alex McLeish and his men have drawn 5 and lost 4 away games.
However, Birmingham City’s home record is quite impressive as they have lost only one match at St Andrew’s Stadium. Furthermore, the Blues have also defeated Chelsea at home by one goal.
Birmingham City will welcome Newcastle United for the eighteenth round of the Barclays Premier League next Saturday.
BLACKPOOL
It has been reported that Blackpool is keen to tie down their in-form midfielder, David Vaughan to a new contract. David’s current contract will expire at the end of the season and talks are going over
a new deal.
Blackpool manager, Ian Holloway said that David Vaughan is the perfect footballer to work with, and Holloway would be delighted to keep David at Blackpool.
Ian Holloway added: "Every day he is exactly the same. His quality with both feet is amazing. I forced him to use only his right foot in training the other day and I couldn't believe it - it was as good
as his left. I don't know why he doesn't use it a bit more! He is an incredible player and a wonderful person, and I'm just very fortunate to have him at the club because he hardly ever does anything sub-standard. He has been manufactured by Dario Gradi at
Crewe and I hope he will be with me for a long time. He is playing so well and I wish him well whatever happens. It is a joy to work with him."
Blackpool won their last match against Stoke City by one goal and are currently 10th in the Barclays Premier League table. The Sea-siders will play their next match against Tottenham Hotspur
at home.
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