Source: Team_Talk
There's no place like home for McLeish
irmingham boss Alex McLeish has challenged his side to protect their eight-month unbeaten home record when they take on Burnley tomorrow.[LNB] And he believes the Blues fans have played a massive part in transforming St Andrew's into a fortress during the current campaign by recreating the intimidating atmosphere of the Steve Bruce era.[LNB]City's only two reversals in front of their own fans this season came against Aston Villa and Bolton in successive matches during September.[LNB]Since then they have not tasted defeat in 14 home games and managed to share the spoils with the 'big four' of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.[LNB]McLeish said: "The players can take a lot of pride from being unbeaten at home for so long and that will be our mission for the Burnley game - to win in front of our fans who have been magnificent this season.[LNB]"The crowd have been really back to form and regained the reputation they've had over the years of it being a difficult place to come.[LNB]"It can be hellish at times. The crowd here can make the opposition apprehensive and give the home players energy, and they have done that this season."[LNB]Blues have been in the top 10 since early December and could still finish as low as 13th which would mean a £3million loss in prize money which is available at £750,000 for each place.[LNB]But McLeish is more concerned about finishing in the top half of the table for prestigious reasons than any financial gains.[LNB]He said: "When you talk about the money side of it, it adds a different kind of pressure on to things.[LNB]"We have just got to finish as high as we can for prestige reasons. We're not thinking about the money. It's more the prestige and what the players have done this season.[LNB]"If we finish ninth, we deserve it. If we don't, then the league doesn't lie.[LNB]"At some stage we knew that we were going to have to have points in the bag for a rainy day and recent results have been difficult but performances have still been great.[LNB]"I have got to applaud the players. We could have had more luck in recent games, and then we would surely have had more points, but earlier in the season maybe we got a wee bit a rub of the green we're not getting now."[LNB]"We've got six points at stake and, if we can get them it will be another phenomenal achievement on top of what we've done already this season."[LNB]McLeish has sympathy for Burnley boss Brian Laws after being relegated with Birmingham two years ago but believes they can take heart from the achievement of himself and his players in returning to the top flight at the first attempt.[LNB]He said: "We can empathise with Burnley. We've been there before, the situation they are in. Brian Laws will be feeling terrible, just like I was a couple of years ago.[LNB]"But the thing Brian and the Burnley players can take heart from is they can bounce back like we have done.[LNB]"They can come to us relaxed. They have nothing to lose. They can come and play football without having to worry about going down or staying up.[LNB]"It is decided and they can be dangerous from that point of view. But I'd like our players to play our best and put on a show for the fans because we are thanking the fans in this game. They hopefully will provide a carnival atmosphere.[LNB]"Burnley will be motivated to spoil the party but it is up to us to produce another top performance at St Andrew's."
