Alex McLeish

Alex McLeish wants his side to build on last week's victory over Man City by picking up maximum points again in tomorrow's crunch clash with relegation rivals Wigan Athletic.

Blues have failed to record back-to-back wins in the league all season but McLeish believes that his buoyant troops are well capable of coming away from Lancashire with a positive result.

But he knows it won't be easy against a Latics side that have not conceded a goal in the last four games on their own patch.

And add to that the extra ingredient of Steve Bruce, the man who left Blues to take over at the JJB Stadium helm last November.

"It's all about taking three points now and we've got to be going into the Wigan game with confidence from last week," said McLeish.

"We know what we'll face. Steve will be very determined to beat his old club and that would be natural.

"He did a great job here. It's difficult when you don't have the spending power of the top clubs, you have to do what you can and bring out the best in the players. Steve can look back with pride.

"He knows the players inside out but equally our players will be determined to put one over on their old boss."

Steve Bruce

Wigan's pitch has been the subject of much controversy in recent months with the surface taking on something of a ploughed field look.

But McLeish insisted that his players would have to 'deal with it' and not use it as an excuse.

"We face a Wigan team that since Steve has joined them have excelled on their own pitch and we have to try and dent that good record which is our challenge," added the Blues boss.

"The pitch is not the best but as a professional footballer you have to deal with the challenges that are put in front of you."

McLeish added: "If Wigan are physical we've got to stand up to that.

"They do play a pressing game and they get bodies forward and second balls and they have a great presence in their team. If you've got that, why not use it?

"But we've got players who have been handling that better in recent weeks.

"I'd like to think we could come back to Birmingham with a favourable result."

4,600 Blues fans will be showing their colours at the JJB Stadium on Saturday.

Blues fans have snapped up the full allocation of 4,600 tickets for the game with hundreds more being turned away after the 'sold out' signs went up at St. Andrew's.

McLeish echoed the comments earlier this week of his assistant Roy Aitken when asked about the tremendous backing that his team would be getting this weekend.

"I'm sure the players will take great energy from the noise of the fans and we hope we can repay their fantastic commitment," he added.

"We really appreciate the support of the fans in games like this."

Franck Queudrue misses the Wigan game through suspension.

Blues will again be without Olivier Kapo and James McFadden through injury while Franck Queudrue has joined Liam Ridgewell on the suspended list after his red card against Man City last weekend.

Neither side have any fresh injury worries plus Wigan can welcome back former Blues midfielder Wilson Palacios after his ban. But Michael Brown and Jason Koumas remain on the sidelines due to suspension.