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Saints boss Jan Poortvliet
"Birmingham have a strong team with some dangerous centre forwards including Kevin Phillips who everybody knows about. "We have to keep an eye on players who have a lot of movement and we have to make sure that they do not get a look in, so they must receive as few balls as possible up front. "They play with wingers and have a lot of experience throughout their side and having come down from the Premiership, their goal will be to get back there as soon as possible "A lot of people are probably looking at this game to see where we are. I'm looking forward to playing our own game against Birmingham. For some people they will be the favourites, but for me we will be."
FORM Blues were steady, if unspectacular, as they ground out an opening day win over the Blades last weekend.  | | Quincy scores the fourth goal at Adams Park. | But there were signs in Wednesday's 4-0 win at Wycombe Wanderers that the players are gradually getting into their stride. In particular, Seb Larsson looked more like his old self and Garry O'Connor also impressed up front. The Saints also enjoyed a midweek Carling Cup success against League Two opponents - 3-1 at Exeter City in the clash of the Flybe-sponsored clubs. Poortvliet's young side were cruelly denied an opening day Championship draw at Cardiff City by Roger Johnson's 90th minute winner for the Bluebirds. David McGoldrick scored Saints' goal in the 2-1 defeat and the striker is clearly a man in form having followed that up with two more at Exeter. Summer signing Lee Holmes, a midfielder from Derby, also opened his goal-scoring account at St James Park and other new boys in the Saints camp include defenders Chris Perry, from Luton, and Paul Wotton, from Plymouth. |
