Larsson calls for fresh start at Birmingham

Birmingham’s match-winner Sebastian Larsson believes their remarkable 3-2 victory at Tottenham will give the Premier League strugglers the confidence to rise up the table.

Having taken the lead with Gary McSheffrey’s first-half penalty, Blues found themselves trailing after two goals in four minutes from Robbie Keane.

However, Cameron Jerome equalised before Keane was sent off for a lunge on Fabrice Muamba and Larsson smashed home a long-range winner in injury time.

“It was very disappointing as after five minutes in the second half we found ourselves 2-1 down,” said Larsson, whose goal gave new manager Alex McLeish victory in his first match in charge.

“But we showed some character to come back.

“It is the first one (goal) in the Premier League for me and it couldn’t have been much better.

“It is fresh start for us and we couldn’t have asked for more to win at Tottenham.

“We have struggled away from home and to come to Tottenham – they are much better than they are in the table – it will give us confidence we can do this more often.”

Birmingham captain Liam Ridgewell admitted the arrival of McLeish had lifted the dressing room.

“The new manager does that to you. He picked the right formation and the boys went and did it,” he told Sky Sports.

“It is a brilliant result for us.”