Nathan Redmond has urged his Birmingham team-mates to use the pain of their Europa League exit to inspire their promotion push.
Young winger says promotion would be best cure for Euro Blues
Nathan Redmond has urged his Birmingham team-mates to use the pain of their Europa League exit to inspire their promotion push.
The teenage winger set up Adam Rooney for the only goal of Thursday's game against Maribor, but it was not enough to see Chris Hughton's side through.
His side currently sit six points off the Championship play-offs in 14th place but with three games in hand on all the teams above them, bar Palace who they face on Monday.
And Redmond knows that if they win their games in hand the Blues will be seen as genuine promotion contenders and it will go some way to wiping out the Euro hurt.
He told Birmingham's
official website: "We're out of the competition (Europa League) and now we have to focus on getting promotion and winning our games in hand.
"It just means we can now focus on Monday. We've lost a few games but we can now try and go on another winning run.
"I think that's a bit of pressure off the gaffer as well as he hasn't got to manage the squad.
"I've been working hard on my shooting and crossing and stuff like that and I can see now that I'm getting stronger and quicker and it's all paying off, from training day in, day out with the first team.
"I'm very happy. When I get home my mum always brings me back down and does not let me get too far ahead.
"I am doing well, she's not going to take that away from me. But she will make sure I stay grounded."
