Chris Davies reveals what Birmingham City 'people' think about Steve Bruce

Birmingham City face Blackpool in the FA Cup second round at Bloomfield Road, kick-off 1pm, on Sunday

Chris Davies insists Steve Bruce remains a respected name at Birmingham City as the rookie manager prepares to face one of the most experienced in English football.

Davies’ Blues travel to Bloomfield Road to take on Bruce’s Blackpool in the second round of the FA Cup tomorrow, with the winner given a place in Monday night’s third round draw.

Davies has been in charge at Blues since the summer – and having been lavishly backed by the club’s owners has steered his side to third in League One with games in hand.

Meanwhile Bruce, who has been in management since the 1990s and spent arguably his most successful period in Davies’ seat, leading Blues back into the top flight in 2002, after a 16-year absence – and also earning a second promotion in 2007. He also had a trophy-lined playing career under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

The 39-year-old paid a fulsome tribute: "I've huge respect for Steve, as a player and a manager, what he's achieved," Davies said. "It's been a long career and he's served this club incredibly well. He's highly respected and thought of here, so he deserves all of our respect. I'm looking forward to going up against him, but it's the teams on the pitch that matter the most.

"I thought he was a brilliant player, a title winner at Manchester United. As a manager, I don't know how many games but it's a lot. I've managed myself for a few games now, and I think I respect him even more for the longevity he's had – particularly when it comes to this club. When you join a club, people will talk about names of the past and you get a sense of what they're seen as – here, he's respected a lot. That's a credit to what he did here."

What are your memories of the Steve Bruce era? Have your say here

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