Queudrue wants home fortress

Queudrue: Calls for home support

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Franck Queudrue believes it is imperative Birmingham City make St Andrews a fortress against next season if they are to stay up.

Blues clinched an immediate return to top-flight football last weekend after their 2-1 win at Reading secured the second automatic promotion place behind Wolves.

The fans' Player of the Year remembers coming to St Andrews as a Middlesbrough player and says if the fans that stayed away this term can get back in their numbers, they will succeed on home soil.

"When I was at Middlesbrough I hated coming here and playing. The atmosphere was heavy," he told Sky Sports News.

"You felt them on your back, you carried them. So it was difficult. If they can get that back that would be brilliant at home."

Given time

Manager Alex McLeish nearly kept Blues in the Premier League after being named Steve Bruce's successor mid-season and Queudrue is pleased the Scot has been given time to mould his own side.

"He came when we were in a difficult position in the Premier League," he continued.

"He didn't have all his players he wanted to start with, obviously. Now everything's fallen back together, so it's good."

Queudrue was singled out for criticism from co-owner David Sullivan following their relegation, but the French full-back insists everyone is happy after winning promotion.

"The main objective altogether was to get back in the Premier League. As we always said. We did it so everyone is happy at the end of the day."