Source: Daily_Mail
Birmingham will fight to hold onto the Carling Cup
Birmingham's defence of the Carling Cup may not be at the top of the club's list of priorities this season but they will not give up their title without a fight, according to manager Chris Hughton.[LNB]Blues face a daunting trip to free-spending Manchester City in the third round of the competition on Wednesday as they start out on the road to the trophy they memorably clinched by beating Arsenal 2-1 in February.[LNB]Much has happened since that day at Wembley - Blues have been relegated to the npower Championship, manager Alex McLeish has crossed to city rivals Aston Villa and City's financial difficulties have been well documented.[LNB] Glory days: Birmingham celebrate winning the Carling Cup last season[LNB]And Hughton insists Birmingham's cup exploits this term - including their Europa League campaign which comes as a direct result of last season's cup success - nestle behind their promotion charge on the agenda.[LNB]'Our main priority of course is the Championship and doing as well as we can in that, but we know what the cup competitions mean to the club and the supporters,' Hughton said.[LNB]'It's impossible to go into any game and not want to win it, whatever problems that can cause regarding the fixtures. I don't think there's any game you can go into and not want to win it.'[LNB]He added: 'We don't want to relinquish the trophy lightly, it will be a tough ask going there (to Manchester City) whichever team they put out but I think it's impossible to not look forward to the challenge.'[LNB] Big task: Chris Hughton knows Birmingham face an difficult challenge to stay in the Carling Cup away at Manchester City[LNB]Hughton insists the decision not to include the Carling Cup in Birmingham's 2011/12 pre-season team photo was due to the desire for somewhat of 'a fresh start'.[LNB]Cup-winning boss McLeish is no longer at St Andrew's while only six members of the matchday 18 from that Wembley victory are still at the midlands club.[LNB]Birmingham's current fortunes are in stark contrast to that of Manchester City, whose spending power has catapulted them into a real force in world football.[LNB]Boss Roberto Mancini is set to rotate his ranks for tonight's tie, and that means handing a debut to Owen Hargreaves while the likes of Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli, Kolo Toure and Adam Johnson could also start.[LNB]Hughton added: 'I hope we can do well enough against them, they will be strong favourites whatever 11 they put out.[LNB]'But it's a nice challenge for us, we're having to face up to lots of different challenges this season.[LNB]'If you asked the players who will play if they'll enjoy the prospect and challenge of coming up against some of the best players in the country, they'll certainly be very much up for it.'[LNB] He's back! Hargreaves the enforcer ready for City debut against BirminghamSouthampton 4 Birmingham 1: Saints go top as they make it six wins from sevenClick here to read the excellent Football League blogNick Harris: Shamed O'Connor at same clinic as Tiger in battle with booze[LNB]
