Birmingham captain Lee Carsley believes that facing Birmingham is like a cup final for most teams

Carsley will lead his side out against Swansea City at the Liberty tonight believing that they should start as favourites in every game that they play.

Birmingham were accused by Nottingham Forest of "not fancying it" after a 1-1 draw between the two sides two weeks back.

But the 2nd placed Blues - favourites to return to the Premiership - Carsley thinks should now start playing like favourites and that he wants to start at 7th placed Swansea this evening.

"We've got a nice bunch of lads who all want to do well and sometimes I think you need a jolt to the system," he told the Evening Post

"We know what we think about ourselves but we're not really aware of how the opposition view us and we've got to have a bit more self-belief.

"We went a goal up at Forest, then had a look to see how they'd react. They went for it and perhaps we didn't cope with it that well.

"We've got to go into games believing in ourselves, because the opposition are because it's a big game for them.

"It's like their cup final and we've got to start playing like we are the favourites."

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