Alex McLeish wants to end Birmingham's derby pain

ALEX McLeish is no stranger to derbies, having experienced the fervour and powder-keg atmosphere of Glasgow’s Old Firm clubs fighting out their bitter rivalry.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish vents his anger during last season s 1 0 derby loss at Villa Park Birmingham manager Alex McLeish vents his anger during last season's 1-0 derby loss at Villa Park

But it required a hostile night being grilled by his own disgruntled supporters to realise the Second City derby cannot be dismissed as a mere local spat.

His first experience of these feisty games was an embarrassing 5-1 thrashing at Villa that pushed Birmingham closer towards the dreaded relegation trapdoor – just days before a fans forum in which he was subjected to a merciless question-and-answer session.

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That uncomfortable evening is ingrained in the memory of Blues boss McLeish.

He has lost two further matches since that humiliation in 2008 and goes into tomorrow’s midday showdown determined to halt Birmingham’s shocking record of six successive defeats. But he is convinced Birmingham are closing the gap on their neighbours after admitting that he underestimated the importance of this Midlands dust-up that first time.

“The backlash from the fans made me realise this is an enormous derby and right up there with Rangers and Celtic,” he said. “I went to a Q&A the week after. The questions weren’t vetted; it was no holds barred, and there were a few things that I didn’t like. But it was good information. It made me realise the fever pitch of the derby in the Midlands.

“I went into the game with good intentions but we got beaten heavily. But nobody ever praises you for that – the result is the only thing. It’s black and white.

“To be fair, in the last two we’ve been excellent and taken Villa to the wire and been unlucky not to take anything.

“But when we talk in terms of finance and investment, they are still light years ahead. Whether there is a massive disparity in technical ability, you’d have to question that because of the way we played last year.

“But I wouldn’t have any doubts about any of my players. They have proved in the last couple of games that will not be an issue against Villa. We have also proved it over the course of the last season when we have never looked out of our depth against any club in the Premier League.

“Sometimes, in a derby game it’s different but the players have proved they have that in their locker. It’s them who have to go over that white line and produce.

“I keep asking for a performance level from them but it’s all about results and if we play horribly and win, so be it. We’ll take that.”

If McLeish is desperate to break the Villa stranglehold, then his opposite number Gerard Houllier is heading into this game with an enviable record on derbies.

He has not lost one since September of 1999, going unbeaten in nine Merseyside encounters while in charge of Liverpool.

He also never experienced defeat with Lyon against local French rivals St Etienne. So what is the secret?

“Score more goals than the other team,” he joked. “I had a good record at Liverpool and Everton fans were probably glad to see the back of me. I lost my very first Merseyside derby when Steven Gerrard was red-carded. But since then I had a good record. But you just have to realise that these games are like no other. In terms of commitment, attitude and intensity, it is different.

“You need to have real steel while at the same time showing qualities that are indispensable – character, self-control and composure.

“Things happen in derbies and sometimes you have to overcome them. The will to win is just as important as the skill to win, I think.

“Regardless of my record, the past is the past. The most important match is this one. And I will tell you how it compares with Liverpool and Everton showdowns after the game.”

Houllier will be without Gabby Agbonlahor and the suspended Marc Albrighton but welcomes back flu victim John Carew.

His captain Stiliyan Petrov will not require surgery on the knee injury that he suffered against Sunderland last week but is still set be out of action for up to three months.

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