Alex McLeish has revealed how fear of the axe propelled Scott Dann to new heights, writes Colin Tattum in the Birmingham Mail.

The Blues boss admitted he was considering changes after the Burnley defeat.

Liam Ridgewell was hovering in the background after returning from a broken leg and was in Big Eck's thoughts.

"Scott's a confident lad and he has done very well for us," McLeish told the Birmingham Mail.

"I felt he was a bit patchy in one or two games and I thought about changing things around.

"He kept his place and he's actually taken the spur from that, from seeing 'hang on a minute, I might not be automatic here'.

"And I think his games subsequently have been excellent, great.

"He has still got to work at things, the same as Roger Johnson, but the two of them have got that steel, that steely streak which I think is necessary at top-level football."