Source: Team_Talk
Blues can be top dogs - Gardner
Craig Gardner believes Birmingham have the potential to become the leading club in the city ahead of Sunday's derby clash with Aston Villa.[LNB] Gardner has warned his former club Villa they should be looking over their shoulder after the upturn in fortunes of Blues under Alex McLeish.[LNB]The midfielder left Villa in January to join his boyhood heroes after becoming frustrated at the lack of first-team opportunities under then manager Martin O'Neill.[LNB]He is relishing playing regular football and is Birmingham's leading scorer this season with four goals.[LNB]Gardner said: "We're the underdogs at the minute. Villa have been the top team for the last few years.[LNB]"Now we're moving up the table and doing well every week. Last season we finished really high and we're looking to improve on that.[LNB]"Villa are looking over their shoulders now, and so they should be. There is the potential to become the city's top team. I'd like Villa to be underdogs and Blues to be above them. Time will tell won't it?[LNB]"But it would be amazing if we did finish above them this year because then we could give them six or seven years of stick all in one year.[LNB]"They're a top-class team. We're not going there thinking we'll walk over them because they've got players missing.[LNB]"We know it's going to be a tough game and we're going to get in their faces and make it hard for them. We'll run our socks off for 90 minutes and hopefully get the points."[LNB]Gardner is unsure what reception he will receive from the Villa fans and admits he will celebrate if he scores against his former club.[LNB]He said: "I'm not sure what reception I will get but I'm not really bothered. I know what I've got to do. If I get booed or applauded it doesn't really bother me.[LNB]"If I do score I'll celebrate but it won't be to rub anything into the Villa fans. If I score I think I've got every right to celebrate. It's an achievement.[LNB]"Hopefully the Villa fans would understand why I'm celebrating."[LNB]Former England Under-21 player Gardner admits he had to leave Villa Park to kickstart his career.[LNB]He said: "If a club wants you, you're going to go and play there. At the end of my time at Villa I wasn't playing any football.[LNB]"I'm glad Blues wanted me. It was the best move I could have hoped for. I love it here. I don't think there are many local lads who've done it (moved between the two clubs).[LNB]"When I was a Villa player, obviously being an undercover Birmingham fan, it was my job. At the end of the day, whichever team I'm playing for, I'll give 110%.[LNB]"Being a Blues fan and playing in this game, I'll give 110%, 150%. It's just a dream.[LNB]"I'll be pinching myself in the tunnel on Sunday, thinking 'This is happening, come on, let's do it'. It's massive."[LNB]Birmingham midfielder Alexander Hleb has recovered from the knee problem suffered against Blackpool last weekend but Cameron Jerome, Jean Beausejour and James McFadden remain unavailable through injury.
