Jean Beausejour is confident about Birmingham's chances of clinching a huge victory in Portugal on Wednesday night despite admitting Braga possess plenty of quality in their ranks.
Blues head into the penultimate round of Europa League fixtures knowing Group H could not be more finely balanced - with themselves, Braga and Belgian side Club Brugge all tied on seven points. Braga, early favourites to fill one of the top two spots having reached last year's final, proved their class on matchday one with a 3-1 victory at St Andrew's.
Victory for the Portuguese side would see them into the knockout stages based on their head-to-head record but Chile international winger Beausejour insists Birmingham, with wins away to Brugge and bottom club Maribor under their belt, are upbeat. "We have started all our games in a positive way and this is no exception, this is another game," he said.
"However we know Braga are a very good team and very strong team but are confident we are going to win. Braga play a very typical Portuguese game and we don't specify a single player (as a threat) but Braga as a team, they're a very strong team."
The wide man has been one of the star performers in Birmingham's challenge on both the domestic and European front this term, playing his part in an impressive run which has seen Chris Hughton's side taste defeat just once in their previous 13 matches.
Naturally, speculation has already started regarding his future in January, especially with reports suggesting cash-strapped City may possibly be forced to offload more of their prized assets.
But Beausejour said: "I don't read a lot of newspapers so I don't really know what is being written, I'm more interested about what's going on at Birmingham and the immediate future."
The 27-year-old will be backed by around 1,800 travelling supporters at the iconic Estadio Municipal de Braga, which - built for Euro 2004 - boasts a rock wall of the quarry it stands within behind one goal and an open view of the city behind the other.
Approximately 8,000 fans ventured to Brugge for the club's last away adventure in October, and Beausejour said: "I'm very impressed with how all the Birmingham fans follow the team.
"Wherever we are they know how the team are doing and have been very, very supportive."
Source: PA
