Source: Daily_Mail
Birmingham City: 8,000 Blues fans head to Bruges
With club owner Carson Yeung facing money-laundering charges and a host of players and ex-manager Alex McLeish already mere memories, those left behind at Birmingham City have decided to pick through the debris and celebrate the remains. One of the few bright spots on a dismal horizon is the Europa League campaign which remains very much alive following a surprising group victory over NK Maribor in Slovenia last month. And 8,000 Brummies will descend on the historic Belgian city of Bruges for the next instalment. Break from the norm: Hughton is wary of not losing sight of league dutiesWith the club's cash dangerously close to running out and no sign yet of fresh investment from Hong Kong, these are worrying times at St Andrew's. But boss Chris Hughton - as he did at Newcastle - has stepped into the breach and calmly set about re-building both morale and momentum after a summer in which Birmingham's supporters were devastated by events following relegation from the Barclays Premier League. With a squad that is undoubtedly light on numbers, Hughton has had to perform a delicate balancing act that is set to continue against Club Bruges, who are second in their league and unbeaten at home in their last 18 outings. Praising the support from City fans, Hughton said: 'That's fantastic - this clearly means a lot to them. It will raise us. There's no doubt about that. In Bruges: City players warm up in the stadium and one of the beautiful vistas which will greet Birmingham fans in the ancient city Birmingham City Myhill; Spector, Caldwell, Davies, Ridgewell; Burke, Gomis, Fahey,Beausejour; King, Wood. 'Supporters from both clubs will be crammed into that stadium. It will be a really good atmosphere. 'This is a proper European game, this one. Bruges boast a very good European pedigree and they are doing well in their own league. I don't think they have ever lost at home to an English club. 'We will have to put out a good side. We know how tough it is going to be.' Hughton, as he has done in previous European matches, will keep an eye on the Championship and this Sunday's trip to Bristol City. He said: 'We want to progress, but it doesn't do us any favours with respect to the Championship. We face Bruges, Bristol City, Leeds and Brighton in the next 10 days. And it's been like that all season. 'But you ask any Birmingham City fan whether they want to play this game in Bruges and the answer will be, "Yes, we do".' Bruges on red alert as police issue warning to 10,000 Birmingham fans in first English visit since Euro 2000Shotton is heir to my throw-in, says DelapThe Midlander: The solution to Coventry's financial woe? Kissing frogs!