Source: Team_Talk
Ridgewell hails Hart's contribution
Hart joined Blues on a season-long loan from Manchester City to gain regular first-team football after the arrival of Shay Given at Eastlands from Newcastle last January limited his opportunities.[LNB]He came in for criticism earlier in the season for a couple of misjudgements which led to City conceding goals.[LNB]But Hart has bounced back from those errors and played a key role in Birmingham chalking up five successive league wins ahead of Sunday's clash with Everton at Goodison Park.[LNB]Left-back Ridgewell said: "It was disappointing when Joe got a bit of stick because he came on loan to us and obviously he has got to settle in.[LNB]"To give someone stick so early was disappointing. I think he has proved his worth and he is a fantastic keeper.[LNB]"In two or three games recently, he has not had a lot to do but then made crucial saves.[LNB]"It's like the gaffer (Alex McLeish) said, that a good keeper is someone who hasn't done anything and then they pull off an important save.[LNB]"He has been fantastic so far. He has got a good chance of going to the World Cup.[LNB]"Harty is competing with people like Robert Green and Paul Robinson, whom he has faced in the last two games, and has got as good a chance as anyone."[LNB]Ridgewell believes City deserve to be in the top half of the table given their excellent form and results in recent weeks after being written off pre-season as relegation candidates.[LNB]But the former Aston Villa player is adamant the players are determined not to get carried away with a run which has brought them wins over Fulham, Wolves, Wigan, West Ham and Blackburn.[LNB]He said: "I would not have believed we would be in the top six or seven at the start of the season, we have been fantastic in terms of our effort and desire.[LNB]"I think we fully deserve to be where we are and we showed it against Blackburn in midweek with a battling performance. It is a good team at the moment and we've got to keep going.[LNB]"You get a couple of wins and everyone wants to keep winning and that is what confidence does for you. It is fantastic.[LNB]"But we've got to be mindful when you are going strongly and everyone is praising you. We know where we want to be. We won't get carried away.[LNB]"We want to be 17th or above, in the Premier League next season. Anything else is a bonus but first and foremost we want to stay in the league."[LNB]Ridgewell is enjoying his run at left-back after making an earlier than expected return from the broken leg suffered in April.[LNB]He said: "People were talking about me being out for 10 months. It is fantastic to be back and I'm loving every minute of it - and loving every minute of winning."[LNB]McLeish has no fresh injury worries as City look to extend their unbeaten league run to nine games after taking 20 points from the last 24.[LNB][LNB] Everton v Birmingham. Click here to bet.
