Steve Bruce pays Birmingham City a compliment and makes reception prediction

Former Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce returns to St Andrew's with Blackpool on Sunday afternoon

Steve Bruce is convinced his Blackpool side are capable of troubling ‘the best team in the league’ Birmingham City on Sunday.

Ex-Blues manager Bruce brings his 15th-placed Tangerines to St Andrew’s looking to halt the League One leaders’ eight-game winning streak. A second string Blues side defeated Blackpool 2-1 in the FA Cup at the beginning of this month.

“They’re the best team in the league - we’re under no illusion, it’s going to be a very difficult game, but if we play like we did against Wrexham (lost 2-1), I’m convinced we can give anyone a game,” said Bruce.

Bruce, now 63, spent six years managing Blues in the early noughties and led the club to the Premier League on two separate occasions. Since leaving St Andrew’s in 2007 Bruce has spent time managing the club’s arch-rivals Aston Villa and local foes West Bromwich Albion.

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He commented: "Birmingham haven’t forgiven me since I went to Villa, but I had nearly 10 years there, in a career that’s gone nearly 40 years. I have a big affinity for them, I’ll never forget my time as a player and a manager.

“It’s a big club, and I’m expecting them to be noisy against me. Let’s go and take them on, and see what we can do. We’ve always got to be brave. They’re a good side and we’ll have to get ready for them.

“They’ve appointed Chris (Davies) and he’s done very well with his recruitment. They’ve obviously had a slush fund which is bigger than most - it’s not often you can pay £15million for a centre-forward in division one, but I’m delighted, I want to see Birmingham do well.”