Blues Take On Rochdale

Blues will take on Rochdale in the third round of the Carling Cup at St Andrews tonight. The Sky cameras will be there hoping for a slip up by the home team, lets hope things go according to plan and they don't get their wish.

Alex McLeish: "Absolutely we respect them. They had a fantastic season just gone.

"It doesn`t matter what division you are in, to achieve what they achieved last year is a great feat.

"It takes a lot of organisation and skill to do that.

"Absolutely we will respect them tonight.

"We have a couple of match reports on them we`ve already been studying. We will leave no stone unturned, we are well aware that shocks can happen in cup competition.

"You can switch on the 'couldn`t care less mode` going into these games but my players won`t be like that.

"They will definitely be getting the tempo high and looking to get through to the next round." Birmingham Mail

Alex McLeish has confirmed he will make several changes, Spanish duo Michel and Enric Valles set for recalls.

McLeish will use the Carling Cup tie at St Andrew's as a chance to give seveal fringe players a run-out. 16-year-old academy graduate Nathan Redmond is also in the squad.

Matt Derbyshire should also start, but Nikola Zigic, Cameron Jerome and Barry Ferguson are expected to be rested. Stephen Carr and Liam Ridgewell will not play due to minor knocks.

This is the ideal game for Matty to get back into the swing of things in front of goal.

Rochdale boss Keith Hill is boosted by the inclusion of new signing Josh Thompson for the trip.

The Celtic defender, 19, has moved to Spotland on a season-long loan after falling out of favour with new Hoops manager Neil Lennon at Parkhead.

Thompson did not receive clearance in time to face Colchester at the weekend but is included in the squad for tonight.

Ambitious Dale boss Hill, who guided the club to promotion last season, is relishing the prospect of facing top-flight opposition. 'This is my opportunity to pit my wits against a Premiership manager and a Premiership side.'

Creative midfielder, can set up a chance or two. Also managed to grab a couple of goals in the 2-2 draw away at Brighton a week or so ago.

This is the first ever competitive meeting of Birmingham and Rochdale.

Birmingham have won their first match in the League Cup in each of the last six years.

Victory would give League One Rochdale a place in the third round of the League Cup for the first time since they were runners-up in 1961/62.

Name: Mick Russell. Location: Hertfordshire. Details: Married with three children, forty one year old Mick is a Gas Service Engineer who started refereeing in the early 1990`s, progressing through the South Midlands League to reach the National List of assistant referees in 2000 and was promoted to the referees` list in 2004. Enjoys a game of golf and spending what spare time he has with his family, and is a licensed FA Coach.

4-0 Blues

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