Norwich
v
Birmingham
Sat 30th Aug - Carrow Road
Last updated: 22nd July 2008
Ridgewell: McLeish backing
Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell insists that he is not looking to leave St Andrews and is prepared for the battle in the Championship.
Blues suffered Premier League relegation last season in Ridgewell's first year at the club following his £2million move from Aston Villa.
And the centre-back has been linked with moves to a number of top-flight clubs, including Blackburn and Middlesbrough, but he is adamant that he sees his future with Birmingham.
"I am here for the long haul, until I'm told by the club otherwise that they have accepted a bid or whatever," Ridgewell told the Birmingham Mail.
"I am ready to go into the Championship but I'm prepared to play in the Championship, go in head first, as I always do to something new, and get back in the Premier League.
"I've not played at that level before and it's going to be an interesting experience I'm sure."
Ridgewell is also confident that the management style of Alex McLeish, who replaced Steve Bruce in November last year, will help the Blues return to the Premier League.
"He (McLeish) has stamped a lot of his own authority on things," added Ridgewell.
''I think as long as he can get and keep the people he wants then we will have a really good team by the time we play the first game.
"We will be one of the strong favourites to win the league and it will be nice to go out there with that tag.
"I'm committed to helping us bounce straight back up and I'm looking forward to the season to be honest."
Coca Cola Ch'ship 2008/09 Win Outright: Birmingham 5/2| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 30th August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Norwich vs Birmingham |
| Saturday 13th September | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Doncaster |
| Tuesday 16th September | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | Bristol City vs Birmingham |
| Saturday 20th September | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Blackpool |
| Saturday 27th September | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Cardiff vs Birmingham |
| Tuesday 30th September | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | Derby vs Birmingham |
| Saturday 4th October | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 12:45 | Birmingham vs QPR |
| Saturday 18th October | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Burnley vs Birmingham |
| Tuesday 21st October | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | Birmingham vs Crystal Palace |
| Saturday 25th October | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Sheff Wed |
| Tuesday 28th October | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | QPR vs Birmingham |
| Monday 3rd November | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | Birmingham vs Coventry |
| Saturday 8th November | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Nottm Forest vs Birmingham |
| Saturday 15th November | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Charlton |
| Friday 21st November | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | Swansea vs Birmingham |
| Tuesday 25th November | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 19:45 | Birmingham vs Ipswich |
| Saturday 29th November | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 12:30 | Wolverhampton vs Birmingham |
| Saturday 6th December | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Watford |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 26th August | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Southampton 2 - 0 Birmingham | |
| Saturday 23rd August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Birmingham 2 - 0 Barnsley | |
| Saturday 16th August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Southampton 1 - 2 Birmingham | |
| Wednesday 13th August | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Wycombe 0 - 4 Birmingham | |
| Saturday 9th August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Birmingham 1 - 0 Sheff Utd | |
| Saturday 2nd August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Birmingham 1 - 1 Fulham | |
| Tuesday 29th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Leicester 2 - 3 Birmingham | |
| Sunday 27th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Forest Green 0 - 1 Birmingham | |
| Saturday 26th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Gillingham 0 - 2 Birmingham | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birmingham City | 3 | 9 |
| 2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3 | 7 |
| 3 | Bristol City | 3 | 7 |
| 4 | Preston North End | 3 | 7 |
| 5 | Sheffield United | 3 | 6 |
Two sides with contrasting season openings clash at Carrow Road as Norwich play host to Birmingham.
Sky Sports 1 bookends a full program of Championship action on Saturday.
Bolton, Hull and West Brom were all casualties of a Carling Cup night of shocks.
Cardiff City have rejected multi-million pound offers for Joe Ledley and Roger Johnson.
Goals from Lee Holmes and Adam Lallana gave Southampton a 2-0 victory over Birmingham at St Mary's.