Source: Team_Talk
Ferguson heaps praise on McLeish
A measure of the St Andrew's club's progress will come on Saturday when they host Manchester United in the Premier League.[LNB]After losing to Ferguson's side on the opening day of the season Birmingham have kicked on and are unbeaten in 11 top-flight games.[LNB]It is a remarkable run considering it is their first season back in the top flight after finishing runners-up to Wolves in the Championship last season.[LNB]McLeish, who played under Ferguson during his trophy-laden spell at Aberdeen, has turned things around after arriving as manager in November 2007.[LNB]The Scot shrugged off the disappointment of relegation in his first season to steer the club straight back up again.[LNB]Now Birmingham lie eighth in the table and are only five points off a Champions League place.[LNB]Ferguson believes McLeish has to be complimented on the way he goes about his business.[LNB]"There is an improvement in the league. You have to assess it that way, " said the United manager.[LNB]"Look at Birmingham for instance and the fantastic job Alex McLeish has done. He only had a small amount of money to budget with when they came into the Premier League.[LNB]"He brought Barry Ferguson down from Rangers and brought in the centre-half from Cardiff (Roger Johnson).[LNB]"He has used players who have been there for a long time now. What he has done has been marvellous."[LNB]Ferguson added: "They are now eighth in the league and have gone 11 games without defeat.[LNB]"It tells you that Birmingham had to improve as a team from last season. They have done that remarkably well.[LNB]"The general standard of the league has improved. That is why you are getting so many different results."[LNB][LNB]
