McLeish hopes to have final word as Brum criticism mounts

ALEX McLEISH wants to put all off-field issues to one side for at least 24 hours as Birmingham try to reach their first major Wembley final for 55 years.

McLeish has been frustrated by his inability to bring in a new striker during the transfer window, with attempts to sign Robbie Keane and Kenny Miller ending in failure.

Then Birmingham’s acting chairman Peter Pannu questioned the success rate of some of McLeish’s signings during the Carson Yeung era ahead of Saturday’s 5-0 mauling by Manchester United.

But McLeish has remained a dignified figure throughout and is determined nothing will distract from the Carling Cup second-leg clash with West Ham at St Andrew’s tonight.

Birmingham are looking to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg.

McLeish said: “We are still trying to enhance the squad. We just have to wait and see.

“If it goes to the wire, it goes to the wire, but I am trying to help the lads to improve for the second half of the season.

“It has been frustrating in one or two situations but I will put it to bed for 24 hours and get this semi-final out of the way.

“As for Peter’s comments, we are not getting involved in those comments. We are only talking about the Carling Cup.”

McLeish is confident he will receive a positive reaction from his players after the defeat at Old Trafford.

He said: “We are looking forward to it. Hopefully the outcome is fantastic for us in terms of reaching the final itself. We know we’ve got a tough game against West Ham, but we are at St Andrew’s, the players are up for it, and we’ve worked hard over the last couple of days to prepare.

“It would be a marvellous feeling to get to Wembley.”

McLeish has no fresh injury problems but on-loan winger David Bentley is cup-tied and is set to be replaced by Sebastian Larsson.

West Ham, who have not reached a Wembley final since drawing 1-1 with Liverpool in the 1981 League Cup, could have midfielder Gary O’Neil in their squad for the tie after the midfielder joined the club from Middlesbrough yesterday.

The 27-year-old will replace Valon Behrami in West Ham’s 25-man squad, with the Swiss international midfielder on the verge of a move to Fiorentina. Strikers Victor Obinna and Frederic Piquionne are suspended.

West Ham failed to push through the loan signing of Demba Ba from Hoffenheim in time for him to feature at St Andrew’s.

West Ham’s last Wembley appearance was in 1981 when they drew 1-1 with Liverpool in the League Cup final before losing the replay at Villa Park.

Manager Avram Grant says his side deserve to be there again this season having beaten Oxford, Sunderland, Stoke and Manchester United along the way.

He said: “To be at Wembley after such a long time would be very good and, if I may say it, we deserve it.

“But we know that no-one will give us any presents. It will mean a lot also to Birmingham – but for us it is very important. There is one more game to the final.”