Birmingham v Blackburn preview: Nightmare day for Dunn

9:57am Saturday 10th May 2008

Comments (9)   Have your say »

DAVID Dunn has admitted he is facing a nightmare scenario ahead of tomorrow's make-or-break showdown with his former club Birmingham City.

The Blackburn midfielder, who is battling to shake off a calf injury in time for the trip to St Andrew's, is desperate to lead Rovers to a final day victory that could see them qualify for Europe via the Intertoto Cup.

However, the 28-year-old also knows three points for Rovers in the Midlands would send Birmingham down into the Champ-ionship, barely 12 months after he had helped them win promotion.

It's a Catch 22 situation for the former England international, who is resigned to feeling mixed emotions whatever the outcome of the do-or-die clash.

"It's going to be weird," said Dunn, who spent four years at Birmingham before he returned for a second spell with Rovers last January.

"Obviously we've got to win the game to give ourselves a good chance of getting into Europe.

"But likewise, I wouldn't like to see Birmingham go down - no way.

"I had a good time there and I still speak to Jonty (Damien Johnson), Tiny (Martin Taylor), and Maik Taylor, plus one or two of the other lads.

"I was part of the team that helped to get them promotion last season - I think I played 20-odd games - so it would be a real shame if they did get relegated again so quickly, particularly for the lads and the fans because they're a good bunch.

"It's one of those things though - it might well happen."

Birmingham need at least a point to stand any chance of avoiding the drop, whilst Rovers must win at St Andrew's, and hope that Aston Villa fail to beat West Ham at Upton Park, to clinch sixth spot and a place in the Intertoto Cup.

Manager Mark Hughes said: "It's in Villa's hands. If they win then we can't catch them.

"But we'll kick ourselves if we get beat and Villa also lose as well, because we'd look on that as an opportunity missed.

"There are so many things that I want to happen. We need to win the game, we need to get 60 points, and possibly get into Europe for the third time in a row, which hasn't happened very often at other clubs in the Premiership.

"So there's a lot riding on this for us."

Hughes will make a late check on Dunn before settling on his team to face the Blues.

Striker Benni McCarthy is also hoping to shake-off a hamstring injury in time to be involved in some capacity.