Blues favourites to beat drop - Megson

Bolton manager Gary Megson believes Birmingham are favourites to avoid relegation from the Barclays Premier League despite his side's recent run of form.

Back-to-back victories have lifted Wanderers out of the bottom three at Birmingham's expense with just three matches remaining. But according to Megson the end-of-season run-in favours Blues, who are the only one of the four clubs in the most danger at the bottom to have two home fixtures left.

"When you look at the games Fulham, Birmingham, ourselves and Reading have got I think you would probably look and say that Birmingham are favourites in this relegation battle to stay up because of the fact that they have got two home games," Megson said.

"I know they got a poor result against Villa last week but I think one of the things they've got is a huge partisan crowd.

"I know very well from being in that part of the world and I don't think it's any coincidence the amount of penalties and free-kicks they seem to get at that place that have enabled them to pick up results.

"So I would say that Birmingham are probably favourites to get out of this because of the two home games."

Megson, who previously managed in the midlands during a spell at West Brom, insists that his theory is not a psychological ploy aimed at adding to the pressure facing a Birmingham side reeling from last Sunday's 5-1 derby mauling by Aston Villa.

"You look at the size of their crowd. With all due respect to, Fulham, ourselves and Reading we don't get huge crowds and they are not as partisan," he said.

"Birmingham's really are. I have taken teams there and it is a really difficult place to go.

"If you look at how many penalties they get compared to other people and free-kicks around the box, when you look back they are a little bit iffy."