Source: PA
McLeish: League remains Blues priority
Manager Alex McLeish insists the forthcoming Carling Cup final will not distract Birmingham from their battle to secure Barclays Premier League survival.
Blues face three successive home league games, starting with Saturday`s clash with Stoke, which will be vital to their hopes of moving clear of the bottom three. They then entertain Newcastle on Tuesday before facing West Brom at St Andrew's.
City were given a reminder of the Carling final with Arsenal on February 27 this week with a photo-shoot and advance media requirements.
McLeish is adamant the focus of his players will remain firmly on the games immediately on the horizon and said: "We've had to do some things in advance for the Carling Cup final, the match programme, pictures, things like that. It is a wee reminder of how well we've done in getting to the final.
"But it is firmly at the back of the players heads in terms of the big day itself. That will take care of itself. We have to get back to the bread and butter of the Barclays Premier League first.
"We've had a good three or four weeks but there is no respite and we've got to keep going and the players have got to keep challenging themselves. The mental toughness they have shown over the last couple of weeks has been fantastic and they have got to build on that."
