Blues will avoid the drop - Larsson

Birmingham City's Swedish international Sebastian Larsson remains confident the club can avoid relegation following the disappointing draw with basement-club Derby County at the weekend.

Larsson's 68th minute goal would have been enough to grab all three points on Saturday, but Emanuel Villa grabbed a leveller for Derby with just moments left on the clock. Other results meant boss Alex McLeish saw his side slip into 18th place and one-point short of safety.

Larsson was quoted by the Birmingham Post as saying: "It was very disappointing. I thought there was only one team that could go on and get the points. From the start, we were the dominant team and I know we missed a few chances, but I thought it was just a matter of time before we got a goal.

"Obviously, we got the goal but then to concede a silly equaliser in the 89th minute was tough. They didn't really trouble us all through the game apart from maybe one shot. It is disappointing, because we should have won comfortably.

"We know we are in trouble and we have been in or around it all season. It is disappointing now but I am still very confident we are going to stay out of the relegation zone. I think, if we play well, we will be too good to go down."

Larsson also stressed the players must start taking their chances and need to be "bit more clever in the closing stages" - and not try to push forward in the dying minutes when all three points appear to be in the bag.

Meanwhile, Derby County striker Kenny Miller has practically admitted the Rams will not be able to avoid the drop this season. The Scotland international, who left Celtic in the summer, said "it looks like we are doomed to the Championship next year but we're playing for pride now".