Soccer: Holdsworth hopes to be in seventh heaven

Birmingham’s David Holdsworth hopes to be in seventh heaven tonight as the Blues face Preston for a place in the First Division play-off final.

Trevor Francis’ side travel to Deepdale this evening to defend a 1-0 advantage from the first leg at St Andrews on Sunday.

And Holdsworth’s love affair with the now traditional end of season shoot-out will reach new heights if his side can hang on to the precious lead given to them by Nicky Eaden’s 55th-minute strike.

‘‘I think this is a great time of the year, an exciting time,’’ the experienced centre-half said.

‘‘I have always liked the play-offs which is just as well considering this well be my seventh time!

‘‘Without the play-offs we wouldn’t have the chance of going up this season and the system gives four clubs an opportunity they wouldn’t get otherwise.’’

Birmingham are in a much stronger position this year than 12 months ago when their chances of reaching the final were shattered by a 4-0 first-leg thumping at the hands of Barnsley.

‘‘The players have learnt from last year,’’ added Holdsworth, who could face his brother Dean of Bolton if Wanderers make it to the final at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

‘‘It was an incredible game but when you look back at it, we had chances and didn’t take them. In play-off games you need a little bit of luck and we got nothing while Barnsley scored every time they shot.’’

Preston boss Dave Moyes has called on the Deepdale crowd to inspire his side to overturn their one goal deficit tonight.

‘‘If ever a crowd was needed, this is it,’’ said Moyes.

‘‘The players will try and do their bit, but the crowd have got an enormous part to play. They have to claim and shout for every decision, just like the Birmingham supporters in the first leg.

‘‘We’ve sometimes had to question the atmosphere around the ground this season. But recently especially the Blackburn game we’ve had a great atmosphere and some good nights at Deepdale.

‘‘And the players know that if we’re one goal better than Birmingham over 90 minutes the worst we can do is take it to extra-time.’’

Preston’s chief injury worry is Mark Rankine (hamstring) while Michael Jackson (back) and Paul McKenna (hernia) face late fitness tests.

For Birmingham left-back Martin Grainger (calf) is expected to be fit and Curtis Woodhouse has recovered from a kick on the ankle which caused him to come off on Sunday.

In the other semi-final both Bolton and West Brom are expected to be unchanged from the sides that fought out a thrilling 2-2 draw at The Hawthorns on Sunday.

And both managers agree that Bolton have the upper hand after Wanderers came back from two goals down with less than 10 minutes remaining to snatch a draw.

‘‘When you go 2-0 down in such an important game and then come back you tend to think you have a psychological advantage,’’ conceded Allardyce.

‘‘The result lifted our spirits and has given us confidence going into the game.

‘‘We didn’t initially show much quality in and around their goal. But we did late in the game and came back well.’’

Baggies boss Gary Megson admitted: ‘‘The fact we won there in the league earlier in the season and played well is not going to mean anything in this game.

‘‘We are underdogs, they have a fantastic stadium, several of their players have experienced the play-offs two or three times before and they have a wage bill one and a half times ours.

‘‘They might be favourites, but we’re still confident and there is a lot more left in this tie.’’

That was an attitude reinforced by midfielder Richard Sneekes who was even more optimistic that Albion had not let their chances disappear along with that two goal lead on Sunday.

‘‘They snatched a draw but they didn’t deserve it,’’ said Sneekes, who is returning to his old club.

‘‘We will go there still very confident that we can do it.’’