Source: Daily_Mail
Ben Foster wants more clean sheets at Birmingham City
Rallying call: Ben Foster is determined to help Birmingham City stay up[LNB]Ben Foster believes Birmingham can guarantee Barclays Premier League survival if their proud defensive record stays intact for the remainder of the season.[LNB]City have let in 42 goals in the top flight this season - the best record of the current bottom eight - ahead of tomorrow's clash at Blackburn.[LNB]They have remained hard to break down despite losing key defender Scott Dann in January for the remainder of the campaign with a hamstring problem.[LNB]England keeper Foster said: 'If you look at some of the teams around us, you'd say they are pretty good at scoring goals.[LNB]'But they haven't got what we've got at the back. As easily as those teams can score, they can ship goals as well.[LNB]'I think we've been pretty good at nicking the odd goal and grinding results out.[LNB]'It's what we are about in a way and our defensive record is one of the best of the teams in the bottom half of the table.[LNB]'Yes, we know we've got to score more goals and win more games.[LNB]'But hopefully that kind of record at the other end of the pitch will see us through as well.'[LNB] Foster insists whoever holds their nerve in the final six weeks of the campaign will stay up.[LNB] Impressive record: Birmingham have the best defence in the bottom eight[LNB]He said: 'Coming towards the end of the season, the games are vital for everyone, it's going to be a bit scrappy and not beautiful football to watch.[LNB]'It's about how you cope and do whatever you can to get the result. We've got some tough games - but they are games we'd like to think we can get something from.' [LNB]Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has challenged his players to maintain the form shown in last weekend's home success over Bolton.[LNB]He said: 'For me, last Saturday the players set the standard and we have to keep playing with that kind of application.[LNB]"It was a big win for us, and you've got to hand it to the players because there was a lot of pressure on them last week.[LNB]'The players passed a mental test with that one and it is important to build on that win.[LNB] Big loss: Scott Dann was ruled out for the season in January[LNB]'We need to play the way we did against Bolton, with the same approach, baring our teeth a little bit rather than the insipid stuff I got at Wigan.[LNB]'We've got to go there and show a certain appetite and no fear.'[LNB]McLeish admits he will be relatively content if Carling Cup winners Birmingham end the season in 17th spot.[LNB]He said: "What I would like to see is we don't lose any games between now and the end of the season.[LNB]'It will probably be very difficult but we've got to have that mindset, have that attitude.[LNB]'If we stay up by one goal, I'll be quite happy. I've always said we've got to get in the top 17.'[LNB]Defender Martin Jiranek and winger David Bentley are unavailable through injury which strikers Nikola Zigic and Obafemi Martins are rated 50-50.[LNB] Kean dismisses suggestion that Rovers' clash with Birmingham is must-win gameBlackburn v BIRMINGHAM: Bentley and Jiranek absent for Ewood encounterBLACKBURN v Birmingham: Pedersen to return following illnessAll the latest Birmingham City news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: David Bentley, Obafemi Martins, Scott Dann, Ben Foster, Alex McLeish Places: Birmingham, United Kingdom
