EVERY UNDERDOG HAS HIS DAY

Monk doesn’t mind being the long-shot because his Blues have been that all season and DEFIED THE ODDS

GARRY MONK insists that his Birmingham shock troops have the ideal mindset to be underdogs today – because they have been doing it all season.

Blues boss Monk has engineered a remarkable play-off push in the Championship despite the tightest of circumstances.

Monk’s hopes of a summer spending spree were wrecked when the EFL judged the club had broken Financial Fair Play rules.

It saw Blues hit with a transfer embargo which meant they could only sign loan players earning less than £10,000 a week.

The club still have a potential points deduction hanging over them ahead of an independent disciplinary commission hearing next month.

But despite the farce, which saw summer signing Kristian Pedersen (right) in limbo as the EFL initially refused to register him, Monk has remained totally focused.

A run of just one defeat in eight games has his side pushing for the play-offs ahead of today’s FA Cup third-round tie at Premier League West Ham.

Monk said: “The whole situation we have faced from the start of the season has made us the underdog throughout.

“But whether you are an underdog or not, it’s about the mentality you have as a team.

“The want to do something better and push themselves has been apparent all season.

“We are definitely underdogs for this game against Premier League opposition, the highest quality squad we have faced this season, at their place.

“But the mentality of this squad has been very strong in terms of competing.”

The off-the-field shambles at St Andrew’s has seen loyal, longserving administration staff quit in protest at the running of the club by chief executive Xuandong Ren and Far East owners Trillion Trophy Asia.

Yet Monk has succeeded in ensuring his men are not put off by the uncertainty and controversy with a points deduction next month quite possible.

He added: “We have not let anything distract us.

“The squad are aware of everything – they are not stupid, they read things and understand what is going on, but one thing we make clear with each other is nothing is going to distract us from performing on the pitch and fighting for points every week.

“The most important part is the football, they’re here to play football and do their best for the club.

“If they concentrate on that they can do well with it – that’s the message from the start and that’s grown.”