TOM BOSSES IT... WITHOUT BUSY FERGIE

TOM CLEVERLEY expects to have Sir Alex Ferguson on the line soon after a victory in his first game as Watford’s interim head coach.

The game’s ultimate Big Boss is renowned for being a sounding board for anyone taking their baby steps in management.

Cleverley (above) chalked up a win, but would not have needed his former Manchester United gaffer to tell him he was lucky.

The 34-year-old admitted he has had sleepless nights earlier in the week as he set about improving a dismal run of one Championship win in 10 games, which cost Valerien Ismael his job.

But he refrained from bending Fergie’s ear, simply because he knows he was otherwise engaged.

Cleverley laughed: “Sir Alex called me when I went into coaching with the Under-18s and I’m sure he will be in touch soon.

“But I’ve been aware it’s Cheltenham week so I’ve left him this past week!”

Birmingham created a shedload of chances but wasted one after another.

In the end Emmanuel Dennis decided it after harassing Emanuel Aiwu into gifting him the ball on the edge of the box.

Dennis believes Cleverley has what it takes, saying: “He is a top guy. I’ve had him as a team-mate, friend, and now as a manager.

“Everything about him is amazing and working with him is a good feeling. He is going to do good things in football.”

While Watford enjoyed a happy journey home, suddenly the alarm bells are ringing for Birmingham.

Brum’s worrying run has seen them slide down the table, with only goal difference keeping them out of the relegation zone.

But midfielder Seung-Ho Paik is confident the amount of chances they are creating will come to their aid soon.

The South Korean international said: “We played really well and our performance was good. We had 27 chances. They had less, but have been more effective.

“The important thing is to keep the performance level like that and just keep believing.”