LEGEND!!

By The Nark End
March 11 2010

EX BLUES LEGEND AND MOST SUCCESSFUL MANAGER HOWARD KENDALL THINKS WE HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BEAT BIRMINGHAM CITY AT ST.ANDREWS ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON

Everton's greatest-ever manager says that Everton can continue their recent good form with a win at one of his former clubs.

Having not lost any of their last three visits to Birmingham City, Everton travel to the Midlands at the weekend looking to build on the 5-1 demolition of Hull City and also gain revenge for the two meetings between the clubs this season.

After a 1-1 draw in the league at Goodison on December 20, Alex McLeish’s side then dumped Everton out of the FA Cup.

Howard Kendall - who spent three years as a player at Birmingham after leaving Goodison in 1974 - told evertontv that although he liked what he saw about McLeish's men when they last visited Merseyside in January, he still thinks that David Moyes' men are capable of extending their unbeaten sequence at St Andrews. 

The former Blues boss said: "I was very impressed with Birmingham at Goodison when I saw them in the Cup. I thought that defensively they were excellent. The two big lads at the back, Roger Johnson and Scott Dann were very strong - as the team were in the middle of the park. 

"But I think they were lacking up front," Kendall continued. "I don't think they've got a consistent goalscorer up there. I know that they bring Kevin Phillips on every now and again, but I think that the two lads up front are not clinical finishers. They've had a lot of 1-0 wins.

"I don't see any reason why Everton shouldn't go down there and get a result."

The current-day Toffees boss Moyes will celebrate eight years in charge of the Toffees the day after the game and Kendall - who had three different managerial spells at Goodison Park totalling 10 seasons - feels he has done a good job, even through some difficult times. 

"There have been good seasons when the Club has qualified for Europe and others where it's been a little bit disappointing,” he said.

"But I think the most important factor is that the fans like him, they appreciate the job he's doing and the players go out there and give their lot for him."