Source: Daily_Mail
Birmingham striker Kevin Phillips looks to avoid relegation hat-trick
Share Veteran striker Kevin Phillips wants to avoid an unwanted hat-trick by helping to keep Birmingham in the Barclays Premier League. Phillips has suffered the agony of being relegated from the top flight with Sunderland and Southampton during his lengthy career. Unwanted treble: Phillips hopes he can avoid the drop againThe 37-year-old is out of contract next month and, if Sunday's game at Tottenham is his swansong for the club, he does not want his three year spell to end by going down. Injury-hit Blues are only out of the bottom three on goal difference as they bid to stay ahead of Blackpool and Wigan who visit Manchester United and Stoke respectively. Phillips said: 'I don't think I've been in this situation before where it is quite as tight as it is on the last day. 'I have been relegated from the Premier League twice. I think at Southampton it went to the last day.'But it wasn't as close as this current situation where four or five teams are still in the mix. 'If this is the end of my Birmingham career, I don't want it to end with relegation. It is not nice to get relegated. Heartbreak: Phillips suffered relegation at Sunderland (left) and Southampton (right)'It has a major knock-on effect for everyone in your personal careers. 'It has a big effect on the club because Birmingham need to stay in the Premier League. 'But we've got plenty of experience in the dressing room that hopefully will see us through.' Phillips has challenged City to emulate their performance in winning the Carling Cup against Arsenal against Spurs. He said: 'For me, and for us, it is like the Carling Cup final now. 'No-one gave us any chance against Arsenal on a big pitch at Wembley but we believed we could do it.'Although it took a mistake for us to win it, it doesn't matter, and on our overall performance we deserved to win the game and that's how we've got to approach Sunday. 'That's how we've got to play. Every player stepped up to the plate and that is what we need on Sunday.' Birmingham will be boosted by the return of defender Liam Ridgewell and nine goal top scorer Craig Gardner after suspension. But Lee Bowyer and Martin Jiranek will have late fitness tests after suffering hamstring and ankle injuries respectively against Fulham last weekend. The relegation dogfight: All you need to know about the five in firing lineFergie hints at strong United team to face Blackpool despite rivals' fearsAll the latest Birmingham City FC news, features and opinion Explore more:People: Craig Gardner, Lee Bowyer, Kevin Phillips, Liam Ridgewell Places: Birmingham