McSheffrey: Confident

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Gary McSheffrey is confident that Birmingham can keep up their good form against FA Cup semi-finalists Portsmouth on Wednesday.

Blues are unbeaten in their last four games and they climbed out of the relegation zone last weekend with a 4-1 hammering of Tottenham.

They lost 2-0 to Pompey three months ago when Steve Bruce had only just left the club and there was uncertainty surrounding the takeover bid by Carson Yeung.

McSheffrey believes the club are now much more stable and is looking for revenge at Fratton Park.

He said: "I remember that game against Portsmouth. I played and it was a really tough game. Portsmouth were really physical and showed they were great athletes.

"We weren't up to scratch that day but we were playing with an uncertainty over the future of the club, the management and everything surrounding it. There was a lot going on.

"Maybe it did affect us even though we lost through an individual error (by goalkeeper Richard Kingson) and then a great strike from Niko Kranjcar but I think we will be better prepared this time around.

No bother

"There's nothing to bother us now other than the football and making sure we do it on the pitch. Stability is probably the word that describes us best."

McSheffrey accepts that Birmingham are still very much involved in the scrap for survival, but he believes they now have momentum and should be able to stay up.

He explained: "These days we have a team where everyone knows each other. We're getting a consistency about us where we all know each other's game.

"People know what is expected of them on the field, around the training ground and off the field. There's a professionalism about the place and a structure where everyone's comfortable.

Enthusiasm

"We're on a good run and you can't ask for more than beating Spurs at home the way we did. We now have to take that enthusiasm and confidence to Portsmouth.

"We'll be going there with a game plan and a structure which will hopefully mean we can come away with something. The rest of the season is in our hands and I'm sure we can survive.

"But we can't be too comfortable. We are still in a relegation dogfight but we have to look after ourselves and not look over our shoulders.

"A couple of wins on the bounce is massive at this stage of the season. We're coming into some form at just the right time."