McSheffrey says the chasing pack are putting pressure on Blues (Getty)

Birmingham midfielder Gary McSheffrey believes the club's Premier League survival bid will go down to the final day of the season.

McSheffrey says last weekend's wins for fellow strugglers Bolton and Fulham served as a real warning shot.

"We've all said that it's going to the wire, it's difficult to call," he told the club website.

"Just as you think you're half safe with a good result against Everton, you get a kick up the backside."

The former Coventry City star feels the performance against the Merseysiders was a big step forward after the disappointing effort in losing to Wigan at the JJB Stadium a week earlier.

"It's no secret that we had a bad game at Wigan and everyone held their hands up," said McSheffrey.

"But we put in another big performance at home, which is getting a bit of a habit recently."

McSheffrey is hoping to have his first taste of a second city derby on Sunday when Blues visit Aston Villa.

He was an unused substitute for the season's previous meeting at St Andrew's.