Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish is excited about the defensive partnership of Premiership rookies Scott Dann and Roger Johnson.

Scouser Dann, particularly, will enjoy being compared with Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson by his manager.

McLeish said: "At the beginning of the season they were still catching up fitness-wise in terms of mini-operations in the summer but getting these lads 100 per cent fit was key and they have shown their winning attitude.

"It reminds me of a few partnerships of the past, Hansen and Lawrenson, for instance, and myself and Willie Miller at Aberdeen - I will give myself a mention, a pat on my back."