Birmingham boss Alex McLeish insists there is absolutely no animosity between him and Sunderland chief Steve Bruce. McLeish's Blues and Bruce's Black Cats go head-to-head at the Stadium of Light for a place in the fourth round of the Carling Cup.

Bruce left Birmingham in November 2007 due to instability in the boardroom and his eventual move to Wigan left a bitter taste.

"We're good pals, he's a neighbour in the same village," said McLeish, with Bruce still owning a house just outside Birmingham.

"Our paths have not really crossed because of how busy we are, with him being up in Sunderland most of the time.

"But I gave him a lift home from a managers' meeting at the beginning of the season at Old Trafford.

"We had a good chat about things and he's enjoying his life up there; he's done fantastic, he's made a good start and they have a squad I can only be jealous of.

"But we've not had a chance to have a beer together would you believe, despite me being here a year and a half, because we're so busy."

Asked whether Bruce contributed any petrol money, McLeish added: "Funnily enough no. We had a good chat, though, and despite us living just around the corner it was the first time I had had the chance to sit down with Steve since moving down to England."