Birmingham boss Alex McLeish will not be taking crisis club Portsmouth lightly in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Blues boss expects tough test in the cup
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish will not be taking crisis club Portsmouth lightly in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
The Blues are set to face Pompey at Fratton Park on Saturday, with a date at Wembley in the last four up for grabs.
The cup represents the only glimmer of hope for Portsmouth in an otherwise dismal campaign, with the South Coast outfit having become the first Premier League side to enter administration.
They are almost certain to be plying their trade in the Championship next term as a result, but will not be giving up without a fight.
A 2-1 victory at Burnley last time out proved they are prepared to battle bravely in the face of adversity and they will not have given up hope of landing the FA Cup for the second time in the space of three years.
Dangerous
Birmingham manager McLeish expects Pompey to give another good account of themselves this weekend, but insists his side have no intention of allowing their own cup dreams to be dashed.
"People say we look a decent cup side with being good defensively and nicking goals. That is the theory," he said.
"We should be going into the game relaxed - but we will be up against dangerous opposition.
"Portsmouth are backed into a corner, they had a great result at the weekend, and have some great players.
"They are on their own patch and, as anyone knows in this league, including the top teams like Manchester United and Chelsea, it is not easy to go away and win.
Progress
"The draw could have been worse but it could have been better and we've been drawn away in every round this season.
"But we won at Everton two rounds ago and we think that, on our day, we can progress."
The trip to Fratton Park will allow McLeish to shuffle his pack, should he wish to, and the Scot admits he is ready to give those on the fringes of his starting XI more of run-out over the coming weeks after securing top-flight safety for another season.
He said: "The players here will not rest on their laurels after what they have achieved. They are determined to win and it's the same in training every day.
"They will carry on and try to get as many points as they can. But it is maybe an opportunity as well for me to maybe blood players into the side and give some game play, like Michel."
Portsmouth to reach FA Cup Final 6/1
