LONDON, England Arsenal succeeded where Manchester United failed days earlier to become only the second team to win at St Andrew's in 30 games with a 3-0 victory over Birmingham City on Saturday. Their success saw Arsenal stay within two points of both Premier League leaders Manchester United, top on goal difference, and Manchester [.

Newcastle fans certainly need a lift after the disaster at Stevenage on Saturday, and it may just happen very soon. Seb Larsson in talks with Newcastle United The news is that Newcastle United are leading the way in the chase for Swede Seb Larsson according to the Birmingham manager himself, Alex McLeish.

Birmingham City manager, Alex McLeish, has confirmed that Newcastle have been given permission to enter into talks with Sebastian Larsson. The 25 year old Swedish international is a versatile right winger who has also covered both full back positions in the past. If successful, it has also been reported that Birmingham City would be looking [.

If Larsson is about to sign for Newcastle United then nobody told Alex McLeish who started Sebastien Larsson tonight ion their 2-1 defeat at West Ham in the semi-final of the Carling Cup. Larsson had a good game and was doing the Joey Barton role for Birmingham in taking most of the free kicks and [.

Now that the transfer window is open, lots of managers are looking to strengthen their squads. Managers like Everton's David Moyes seem typical; he's looking to sign a striker, having repeatedly bemoaned his team's lack of ability to finish in front of goal, most recently after the away draw at West Ham.

The January transfer season has been strange up till now, but it's hardly because Newcastle have not been linked with a number of players. But what's been really hard to decipher, is which players Newcastle are really after. Birmingham manager Alex McLeish said today that Newcastle had formally withdrawn their interest in Swedish winger Seb [.

Three names that we were "linked" with have all fallen through. And probably for the best.

Roque Santa Cruz:

In total, Santa Cruz started eight games, with another 16 substitute appearances. The Paraguay international has earned around £6m in wages. (via guardian)

City have hardened their stance on the issue of wages for loan players since agreeing to subsidise Craig Bellamy's move to Cardiff earlier this season and Blackburn will pay the majority of Santa Cruz's salary.

Even though full-back Rafael was sent off but 10-man Manchester United still kept their unbeaten record as they went back to the top of the Barclays Premier League on goal difference after a 0-0 draw against Spurs.

Wayne Rooney brought a couple of smart saves from Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes and Rafael van der Vaart also went close on two occasions for Tottenham.

The English Manager is a dying breed. We've touched on this topic before. First, the English Manager was kicked out of the Top Four. Then, the English Manager was kicked out of the England squad. Now, the English Manager is getting kicked out of the Premier League.

The tide has turned.

The English Manager is a dying breed. We've touched on this topic before. First, the English Manager was kicked out of the Top Four. Then, the English Manager was kicked out of the England squad. Now, the English Manager is getting kicked out of the Premier League.

The tide has turned.

Arsene Wenger was extremely pleased with the way that his team handled the "physical challenges" of Birmingham City to record an impressive 3-0 win at St. Andrews yesterday and the way they refused to let Alex McLeish's side stop them playing their free-flowing football. "We were prepared today to face the challenges, physical challenges.

According to ESPN Soccernet, Birmingham are looking to bring in a few players this month but they will not break the bank for them. Manager Alex McLeish said,

"I've already sat down with Peter Pannu last week and we've agreed that we are going try and bring some players in.

Birmingham City are in talks with Ireland & Spurs striker Robbie Keane over a possible move to St Andrew's, the club have confirmed.
Blues boss Alex McLeish has made it clear signing a quality forward is his number one priority during the current transfer window.
Keane is the player City are most actively pursuing, although the club are adamant reports he has already undergone a medical are wide of the mark.

Birmingham City are in talks with Ireland & Spurs striker Robbie Keane over a possible move to St Andrew's, the club have confirmed.
Blues boss Alex McLeish has made it clear signing a quality forward is his number one priority during the current transfer window.
Keane is the player City are most actively pursuing, although the club are adamant reports he has already undergone a medical are wide of the mark.

The transfer window in Europe is in full-swing and these are some of the major deals that have been completed across Europe today.

Premier League
Birmingham City have taking David Bentley on loan from Tottenham Hotspur for the rest of the season. The 26-year-old, who has seven caps for England, has made just two Premier League appearances this term.

Reported Liverpool target Sebastian Larsson has failed to reach an agreement over a move to Newcastle.
The Birmingham midfielder had been widely expected to move to St James' Park during the transfer window, but Blues boss Alex McLeish has revealed a deal is unlikely to happen.
McLeish said: "Newcastle made a bid but I don't think Seb could agree terms so he is still a Birmingham player.

Birmingham have had a £6million bid accepted by Tottenham for Ireland striker Robbie Keane, according to reports this evening.
City have reached agreement with Spurs to pay an initial £4 million for the Dublin born Ireland international.
But this could rise by additional £2million via various add-ons and clauses in the deal.

Loan star David Bentley made his mark on his new manager Alex McLeish in the 1-1 with local rivals Aston Villa on Sunday.

Speaking on the club's official website McLeish said: "He was excellent. I thought he had a really good game."

The Blues' manager was concerned over Bentley's lack of recent action and had implied that he would be watching him in the second half to see if he faded, but claimed that the on-loan winger replied: "Don't take me off I've got a chance of playing 90 minutes.

It looks like Birmingham City have a very odd way in terms of deciding their transfer target especially when it involves big name players as after canceling the deal for Mauro Camoranesi in the last minute last summer, the club done the same thing again with Robbie Keane.

Just Like Camoranesi's case, Birmingham also decided to cancel their offer for Keane just after the club already agreed in paying the transfer fee required by Spurs to acquire the Irish striker.

I didn't support YOU as a boy Birmingham City have been on the receiving end of some verbal bitch-slapping from Tottenham striker Robbie Keane as a supposed transfer failed to materialise. The Republic of Ireland international has spoken out against the Blues after the club released a statement detailing why they were no longer pursuing [.

After coming away from a testy trip to Tottenham with top spot in the Premier League intact, Manchester United look to keep up their fine home form as they host struggling Birmingham City on Saturday.

United went down to ten men almost 15 minutes from time when Rafael da Silva was given his marching orders for a second yellow, but as has been the case many times throughout the season, their resilience saw them through safely to the end of the 0-0 draw.

photo courtesy SportyDesktops Premier League - Dann out for rest of season - Yahoo! Eurosport Birmingham manager Alex McLeish confirmed central defender Scott Dann is likely to be out of action for the remainder of the season with his severe hamstring problem. But he is not looking to bring in a new centre-back and has faith in Czech international Martin Jiranek to provide back-up for Roger

BIRMINGHAM, England Birmingham's Craig Gardner booked a League Cup final showdown against Arsenal as his extra-time goal sealed a 3-1 victory over West Ham in Wednesday's semi-final second leg that secured a 4-3 aggregate win. Gardner, a boyhood Birmingham fan, capped an impressive fightback from Alex McLeish's side, who can now look forward to [.

The Carling Cup is still a much derided competition, scoffed at and labelled a 'Mickey Mouse' Cup. And while I agree it doesn't have the charm of the FA Cup or the glamour of the Champions League, that claim is usually made by those who are knocked out or see their reserve players play in [...]

Earlier this week Birmingham City pulled off a major victory to book a trip to the Carling Cup final at Wembley, and now it appears the Blues are set to revamp their front line. The Independent is reporting that Alex McLeish is set to clinch a deal for Nigerian international Obafemi Martins, who has had a less than stellar time at Rubin Kazan.

In a departure from what some may have expected, this FA Cup tie between Birmingham City and Coventry City turned into a goal fest. The home side clawed back from a two-goal deficit to end up the victors, 3-2.

Starting Formations

BIRMINGHAM FORM: For a side who has been busy in both the League as well as making the Carling Cup final, it wasn't surprising to see them rest some starters.