Friday 3 March 2017 08:22, UK
Leeds head coach Garry Monk is wary of Birmingham as his side bid to keep up the pressure on the Sky Bet Championship top three.
Fourth-placed Leeds play at St Andrew's live on Sky Sports on Friday night seeking to cut the deficit to third-placed Huddersfield to one point.
The Blues have just two wins in 15 games since Gianfranco Zola was appointed as manager, replacing Gary Rowett in mid-December. But Monk, who is banned from the touchline for his part in the melee at the end of Leeds' loss to Huddersfield last month, is taking nothing for granted.
"The Championship doesn't allow you to relax for a second, not for a moment," he said. "Since they changed their manager it probably hasn't gone as smoothly results-wise as they would've liked. That squad has been competing for play-off places over the last couple of seasons. They got a good result against Wolves, that will give them confidence.
"They have the quality within that squad to do much better than they have. They'll be wanting to build on that game, so we're expecting a tough game. That win will give them confidence, so we have to be ready.
"It would be a mistake not to show the respect that Birmingham need, just because they have had a difficult time."
Monk's own future was raised at the pre-match media conference, but he insists he is concentrating on accumulating points. He added: "I haven't spoken to the club. I'm contracted until the summer and I'm sure there will come a point where we will discuss the future.
"There's plenty of time left. That's not important right now. The most important thing is we focus on the game on Friday. My focus is on right now. We haven't achieved anything yet. We have to stay focused."
Monk is banned from the touchline for one game after accepting an FA improper conduct charge for his clash with Huddersfield's David Wagner, who was banned for two games.
"I don't see it being a problem," said Monk, who also served a one-game touchline ban in October. "Our players know exactly what they need to deliver and how they need to deliver it on the pitch against Birmingham. We fully trust the players."
