Birmingham City-Tottenham Hotspur Preview

Aug 27, 2009 - 4:49 PM JAMES PIERCY STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Tom Huddlestone has backed Tottenham to continue their magnificent start to the season against Birmingham on Saturday to prove Harry Redknapp's side are no longer a soft touch.

Spurs have made their best start since their Bill Nicholson inspired 1960-1961 championship and FA Cup double winning season to storm to the top of the Premier League table.

After defeat Liverpool on the opening day Spurs went on to thrash Hull 5-1 at the KC Stadium before grinding out a hard-fought 2-1 win at West Ham last weekend.

Midfielder Huddlestone said: "I think we are going the right way to changing people's perceptions of us.

"If we had not got the right result at Hull, it would have been the same old thing - beating one of the big teams but then going away from home and being bullied off the pitch.

"The main thing the manager Harry Redknapp is trying to get us to do is for us to do the bullying kind of thing and it us pressing people ??? not giving them any time on the ball.

"I have been working to improve the way I impose myself on the game, to be more aggressive, get close to people and make more tackles.

"I need to get louder on the pitch and I have been told that since I was 11 or 12.

"It is not a natural thing for me but if it is going to keep me in the team then it is something I am going to work on."

Spurs welcome back defender Ledley King after being rested for their midweek Carling Cup win over Doncaster. England striker Peter Crouch drops to the substitutes' bench.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish believes Harry Redknapp has turned Tottenham into the nation's great entertainers.

McLeish takes Birmingham to White Hart Lane trying to stop Spurs adding to their tally of 14 goals in their opening four games.

The Blues manager claims Spurs have the potential to challenge the dominance of the traditional top four, providing key players Jermain Defoe, King and Luka Modric stay fit.

McLeish said: "We know what we will be facing down there and they have captivated the country with their imaginative football.

"They play with a lot of pace and they have goal-scorers all over the team.

"It depends on if Harry can keep them all fit but he has cleverly built a very impressive squad down there.

"They must feel that they have got as good a chance as anybody."

Birmingham defender Stuart Parnaby has warned his teammates they cannot afford to make a sluggish start.

Birmingham were on the verge of being dumped out of the League Cup by Championship Southampton before two late goals earned them a 2-1 victory.

Parnaby said: "We did not start as well as we should have at Southampton and we cannot afford to let that happen on Saturday. In the Premier League you are against tougher defences and better teams."