Manager prepared for Birmingham test

Manager looks ahead to televised clash at St Andrew’s.

Dougie Freedman believes it will be a different type of test for his Bolton Wanderers squad as they prepare to face inform Birmingham City in this weekend’s early kick-off in the Championship.

The Whites travel to the Midlands looking to build on their solid display at Blackpool on Tuesday night and come away with maximum points.

However the Bolton boss is prepared for a difficult game against Lee Clark’s inform Blues who have won their last three games on home soil.

“I am confident we will go to Birmingham City this weekend and put on a good show,” said the Wanderers boss in his pre-match press conference.

“Our performances of late have being very good but sometimes in football results don’t quite go your way. The key is to keep on working hard and make sure you prepare properly and that is what we have done.

“Our performance against Blackpool was excellent. We showed the right desire and spirit to close them down when they were in possession.

“When we had hold of the ball we passed it well through the midfield and created a number of opportunities and on another night we would have got the right result.”

This weekend will be the final game for a fortnight as the Championship takes its second break of the season with international football taking centre stage for the final World Cup qualifying matches.

With the homework complete on how the blue side of Birmingham approach Saturday’s game at St Andrew’s, Freedman is confident his team will be ready to handle whatever Clark’s team throw their way.

“This weekend will be a different test to the one we faced at Blackpool on Tuesday. Birmingham are a free flowing team and I feel one or two of our technical players could influence the game on Saturday.

“Lee Clark has got his team playing two different formations where they either have three playing at the back or they can switch to 4-4-2.

“It will be good to see what they come up with but there is no doubt that we will have different plans and ideas for different scenarios.

“With the three loan players coming in last week it has given me the opportunity of playing a different way but I can also resort back to the likes of Chris Eagles and David Ngog who were on the bench on Tuesday.

“I have got my ideas on what we are going to do and I am sure it will be a fantastic game.”

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