Football
David Dunn exclusively to William Hill: “Sheffield United are favourites to get promoted at Wembley”
David Dunn talks exclusively to William Hill
Former Blackburn and Birmingham City creative midfielder David Dunn talks exclusively to William Hill about his former clubs and also shares his prediction for who will take the final Champions League positions and win the Championship and League 1 play-offs. David Dunn also shares the best player he game up against from his playing days.
David, talk to us about the new Ownership at Birmingham and the positive impact it has had on the team?
David; Birmingham is buzzing right now. The new Ownership have done a great job with their investment and with the signings made, they have all delivered on their potential. Sometimes you can spend a lot and every team will be looking to get one over the big team, but Birmingham City have not let anything get in their way of winning the League. Credit to the Manager Chris Davies, who has done a brilliant job this season. I think he has managed the hype well and delivered a team week in week out to compete on the pitch. To get 111 points is no mean feat and this gives the whole team big confidence to start well next year in the Championship.
With Tom Brady being part of the eye-catching Ownership group, how does this help the players?
David: Firstly, the new signings last year have all bedded in well. Jay Stansfield and Alfie May have continued where they left off, but performing at a very good level. This then filters down to the whole squad who want to be a part of the success, and no one wants to miss out. This winning culture has definitely helped create a brilliant atmosphere within the squad and the whole Club. Having Tom Brady on board does help elevate the team, not daily, but knowing that this Club will want to push on and it means as players you want to be part of the journey, so give everything to the cause, to make sure, you are here to see it through. It’s a game of small margins and it does filter through for sure.
What is next for Birmingham City?
David: The ground is bouncing on match days. The club are doing a lot right with the fanbase and making the match day experience the best it can be. Some innovative ideas have been delivered this season and it’s a great place to be at. The Championship is a different beast to that of League 1, however, with this momentum and the Club are likely to invest again, there is no reason Birmingham City can’t mount a serious bid for the play-offs and promotion. The crowd are all on side, they have a good coach, good squad and with some fine tuning, can give next season a real go.
How would you view your time at Birmingham City?
David: One with some regret unfortunately. I was at the club for around four years but only managed just under 60 games. I had injuries which took time to get me back on the pitch, hamstring ones which were a pain. The time on the pitch I enjoyed, the fans were always good to us and managed to score some goals. But overriding view was I wanted to have done more for Birmingham City.
Switching to Blackburn Rovers, how would you view where they are as a Club?
Two out the last three seasons Blackburn Rovers have finished 7th. So close to the play-offs, and in both cases, you never know what can happen in the play-offs as the team coming in with some form, can get promoted.
Full credit to the academy coaches at the club for keep on producing good young players and John Eustace did a good job as Head Coach before heading to Derby. I can see his reasoning, but it’s a shame as he has proven he is a good Coach and gets his players to play for him.
The final day of the Championship season was a little agonising as Blackburn had got themselves in the play-offs for a while, but then once Sheffield United equalised, their chances had gone.
It’s now important that the Club can recruit well, keep the top players and give the Manager backing. He has managed now for a while in the Championship, so must have a good understanding of what it takes to put together a competitive squad.
There is always mentions of the Ownership, to be present at games, but they do seem to have the Club’s interest at heart. They have been knocking at the door for a few years now and just need to get a team together that can get over the line and into the Top6, to give them a chance of promotion.
With their rivals Burnley now back in the Premier League, there is more of an ambition to get Blackburn Rovers back in the big League.
Looking at the Championship and League One play-offs this season, who do you see getting promoted?
In the Championship, Sheffield United played an excellent game away at Bristol City and are favourites to get promoted at Wembley. Missing out on automatic promotion with a few games to go was probably a good thing, so they could re group and then look to go again.
Chris Wilder is a good Coach and the win over Bristol City will have given them a lot of confidence to go to Wembley and get promoted. I think they will have enough to get promoted with the quality they have.
In the other tie, I think Sunderland and Coventry will both fall short of doing enough to not only come through their 2nd leg, but beat Sheffield United.
Looking at League One, both first legs were draws and this wasn’t surprising for me. I don’t think there is a lot between all four teams Wycombe have been in the Championship the most recent, but I fancy Stockport County to win their second leg, get to Wembley and be promoted.
They seem to have enough going forward and resilience in defence, so believe they can have enough to go up.
