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Search forMartinez recognises challenge facing Swans against Birmingham
Friday, November 21, 2008, 08:00
Birmingham arrive in Wales looking to cement their hold on an automatic promotion place having dropped out of the Premier League in May.
And Martinez has warned his players that a peak performance is required if Swansea are to continue their Championship acclimatisation with a head-turning victory.
"Birmingham have got the strongest squad in the division without a doubt," said the Swansea manager.
"They are a Premier League side playing in the Championship this season and, while that doesn't guarantee you anything, it really helps.
"People talk about their strikers, but they are very strong in every department.
"They do not concede many goals and they can score from all over the pitch out of nothing.
"They do not have a weakness and, if you could choose, you'd only want to play them once a season rather than twice.
"It's a compliment to us that we are up against a club like in Birmingham in a competitive match because it shows how far we've come.
"But at the same time we know that we're going to have to be at the very top of our game if we want to compete."
Relegated on the final day of last season, Birmingham still boast a host of players with top-flight quality.
Boss Alex McLeish has an embarrassment of riches in attack, for instance, where Kevin Phillips, James McFadden, Cameron Jerome, Gary McSheffrey, Garry O'Connor and Marcus Bent all compete for starting berths.
Yet the Blues head for Swansea in their worst form of the season having won only one of their last four games.
But Martinez added: "They are one of the three outstanding clubs in the Championship along with Reading and Wolves.
"They have big-name players, experience and great financial possibilities."
Martinez has some tricky selection decisions to make this evening, with Dorus de Vries fit again after a broken cheek and jaw and competing with Dimi Konstantopoulos for the goalkeeper's jersey.
He must also assess the fitness of Jason Scotland after his latest international trip, with Gorka Pintado on standby for a first league start in just over a month.
Whatever team he picks, Martinez believes a bumper home crowd will be a big factor.
"There is something special about Friday night football in Swansea," he said.
"As a player I used to go to the Vetch for a Friday game thinking we were already 1-0 up, and we seem to get a similar atmosphere at the Liberty now.
"Maybe the fans are a bit more up for it on a Friday, I don't know, but it certainly gives us great belief."
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