Alex McLeish wants Villa to banish his memories of Blues' relegation at White Hart Lane

Nov 20 2011 by Mathew Kendrick, Sunday Mercury

ALEX McLeish wants Aston Villa to help him exorcise his White Hart Lane demons when he returns to the scene of Blues’ relegation for the first time tomorrow night.

McLeish’s first and last games as Birmingham boss were away at Tottenham and, unsurprisingly, he would rather replicate his opening victory than his closing defeat.

Harry Redknapp’s Spurs condemned Blues to relegation to the Championship with a dramatic 2-1 victory over McLeish’s former club on the final day of last season.

It was a far cry from the last gasp 3-2 victory in North London which kicked off McLeish’s St Andrew’s reign in spectacular style back in December 2007. “Although it was a pretty sad ending to the season it was a very good performance and it wasn’t White Hart Lane that was the downfall,” said McLeish.

“It was the episodes since the cup final with too many key players not being available.

“We could have easily have held on for a draw if that is what it took.

“But when we needed another goal we threw the kitchen sink at them and that is when they got up the pitch and got the winning goal.

“Things conspired against us in the previous games but it was a low point, yes.

“I prefer to think back to the first game there and try and emulate that.