Alex McLeish braced for 'biggest game'

Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish admits he is braced for the biggest game of his managerial career against Tottenham at White Hart Lane tomorrow as he tries to fend off the threat of relegation against four other sides battling to beat the drop.

McLeish led Birmingham to Carling Cup glory in February but three months later the club's Barclays Premier League future is on a knife edge as speculation surrounds the former Scotland manager's future. City have found themselves one of a quintet who could drop through the relegation trap-door on what promises to be a dramatic afternoon which is being billed as "Survival Sunday".

He said: "It's hypothetical stuff. I'm not going to get involved in ifs and buts (about my future]. But I do know it is probably the biggest game of my career. It is certainly the biggest of my managerial career - so bring it on. I believe we will stay up. We have to try and play to the strengths the players possess. We know opening up against a Spurs team could be deadly. We've got our own strategy and we have to try and be good on the day to get a positive result at White Hart Lane."

Birmingham have been decimated by injuries and two lengthy cup runs have taken their toll. But McLeish is refusing to blame the side effects of the Blues lifting their first trophy for 48 years for their current predicament. He said: "I'm not blaming anything on the cup. We have been savaged by injuries. There is no doubt about it and suspensions don't help.

"We have been hit in that department but I'm not blaming the cup. It was a brilliant day. The players have given the fans some fantastic days this season including the Carling Cup. There have been other games as well. We beat Chelsea, drew at Manchester City who are now in the Champions League. They've got plenty of great moments that they have given the fans and I am looking for one more great moment at Spurs."

McLeish feels that any side relegated this season can count themselves unlucky. He said: "We are where we are because we have not won enough games, or got enough points. But 39 points in any other season would have been fine. Three teams are going to go down and they don't deserve to go down but if it's your destiny, then that is what will happen - but I think we'll stay up."

McLeish concedes that a lack of fire-power and failure to register as many clean sheets as last season are the main reasons for City's current plight. He said: "The nucleus of the guys have played for two years solid. We've gone right to the wire in some ways to get 39 points with the trials and tribulations we've had.

But we have been short of goals again which last year we got away with because we had so many shut-outs. This season we've not quite got away with that."

Meanwhile, Ian Holloway will find no solace in defeat should Blackpool lose their fight for survival at Old Trafford despite the fact the Bloomfield Road club are widely perceived to have punched way above their weight over the past two seasons. "It will be the end of the world," he said. "It will definitely feel like that. You can't be a football manager, or a player, or have anything to do with a club and be happy if you go down."On the face of it, Wigan would seem to have the most favourable final-day fixture as they face a Stoke side who now have little to play for following their FA Cup Final loss. Manager Roberto Martinez expects nerves to affect his relegation-threatened side but is convinced they can be overcome.

The Spaniard, whose side are 19th but just a point behind 15th-placed Blackburn, said: "We need to remember we are human beings and sometimes the significance of the three points can affect your performance."

Blackburn travel to Wolves with both sides needing to win to be certain of avoiding the drop - though much depends upon the results elsewhere.

Rovers manager Steve Kean insists Blackburn's current form means they are going into the match in good spirits. He said: "Wolves have been quite animated - it's 'Beat Blackburn Weekend', it's 'Survival Sunday' down there - but we want to view it as 'Success Sunday' because we are in good form.

"It's not a case of us fearing going to Wolves, we are going into the game really looking forward to it and to have a really good ding-dong."

Wolves manager McCarthy believes it helps his team's cause that they are facing a side who will also have something to play for.

He said: "It probably helps that it makes them as nervous as we will be. I am never quite sure whether it is a good thing or a bad thing when you go into a game against a team that is relaxed and nothing to lose.

"Does it take the edge off their performance or does it give them an ability to relax with a bit of gay abandon? I'm not sure which is the help but we both need points and, if either of us win the game, it's job done."