Parnaby ready for fight

Blues defender fires warning to relegation rivals

By Lewis Rutledge   Last updated: 28th February 2008

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Parnaby: Confident

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Stuart Parnaby has insisted that Birmingham 'will never throw in the towel' in the battle to avoid relegation.

Blues are just one point above the drop zone after a run of three successive draws, but Parnaby maintains that the spirit in the camp is good.

He was happy with the performance against Arsenal last time out and feels confident that Birmingham can survive in the top flight.

"If you came to the training ground you wouldn't think 'these are struggling'," the defender said in the Birmingham Mail.

"Everyone's in it together really and the atmosphere around the place is really good. And we're not going to throw the towel in ever, no matter what. You only have to look at Arsenal to see that.

"That 10 minutes after half-time was probably the toughest spell of football I've ever played. We had to graft and dig in, our spirit was brilliant.

"With the lads we've got, we've as good a chance as anyone of getting the results and pushing up the table.

"We have to perform at the same level against the teams around us as well and we will be fine, I'm sure."

Jaidi boost

Radhi Jaidi, meanwhile, is poised to come in for the suspended Martin Taylor for Birmingham's clash against Tottenham.

Alex McLeish believes the Tunisian has come back fitter from the Africa Cup of Nations and is ready to consider him for a spot in central defence.

The Birmingham boss said: "Jaidi will come back into contention.

"He is at a decent level of fitness now after participating in the African Nations Cup games, where he gave good performances.

"I think those games were good for him in honing his sharpness. He was maybe a little bit off the pace when he came into our team because he had been suffering injuries and hadn't trained and pre-season he had to work to get some excess weight off.

"It is always a hard catch-up that but now I think he is at a pretty good level."