Birmingham are back in the Premiership and will receive a welcome from Manchester United on Sunday, early doors. Popular BCFC blog, Joys & Sorrows, has take a couple of minutes to talk to me ahead of match day.

1. What are your hopes for the season?
To stay up. Nothing more. We’ll be happy with 17th. Beating the Villa will also be good as well.

2. Are you happy with your business in the transfer market this summer?
It’s been OK but we could still do with another midfielder and a few younger players with pace.

3. Which teams do you think will go down?
Burnley, Portsmouth and Hull

4. Which team do you think will win the league?
I have a feeling that Chelsea will sneak it this season. I think you will be relying too much on Rooney and you know he will miss at least six weeks of the season with a broken foot.

5. Which player should United be most wary of on Sunday?
I don’t think United have anything to fear from us really but if anyone’s going to do anything it will be James McFadden. We are hoping our new striker Christian Benitez will make an appearance but it may be too early for him.

6. Which United player will you be most wary of on Sunday?
Rooney.

7. Will you be happy to see your team park the bus on Sunday or do you want
them to have a go?

I’d like us to have a go like we did at Chelsea on opening day two years ago. However I expect us to be dropping deeper and deeper as the game goes on.