How is Alec McLeish getting on down in England?

As one of the highest profile Scottish managers, and one who was desperate to test himself in the Premiership, it's worth checking in to see just how Big Eck is getting on at Birmingham.

Well, losing to Huddersfield in the FA Cup last weekend wasn't clever, but he knows he will be judged at the end of the season on whether Birmingham manage to avoid relegation or not, and nothing else really matters. In that regard, he seems to have improved performances and shown himself to be a more shrewd operator than Steve Bruce, although that isn't hard.

Having taken time to assess the squad, though, he has decided that he needs new signings in January in order to keep the club away from the Premiership trap door. The players aren't good enough and, in his own words, "the Birmingham fans deserve better".

Here he's been very consistent - when he joined the club he praised the wonderful fans, took time out to do the same in his first post-match press conference, and again doffed his gap to the magnificent support he and his coaching team received during their first home game.

Say what you like about him, but he knows how important it is to ingratiate himself with the people who pay his wages.