Optimistic Drury is aiming higher

Birmingham Brummies manager Graham Drury wants his team to "send a message" to the rest of the Premier League in their next two meetings.

After three successive wins, the Brummies will move into the play-off places if they are victorious against Newcastle at Perry Barr on Wednesday.

"It's a big week for us and two good results would put us in a handy position," said Drury.

"Four wins from six league meetings is good, but it could have been better."

We need to take our chance over the next couple of nights to send a message to the rest of the league

Graham Drury

Birmingham's form has improved markedly since the start of the Premier League competition, following a dreadful performance in the Premier Trophy where they finished bottom of their group.

The Brummies beat Sheffield before narrow defeats at Workington and Newcastle, then reeled off home and away wins over Scunthorpe and a tense 47-43 home victory over Redcar.

Now they have back-to-back meetings against Newcastle at home on Wednesday and Redcar away on Thursday.

"We would have won up at Newcastle with a full-strength team," said Drury.

"Hopefully we can do the business on Wednesday. All the boys are keen to do well, we need to take our chance over the next couple of nights to send a message to the rest of the league."