The Carling Cup winners now have to concentrate on staying in the top flight for a third successive season - starting with the vital clash at fellow strugglers Wigan.
But McLeish will be boosted by the return to fitness of half a dozen players, including skipper Stephen Carr and midfield general Barry Ferguson, for the meeting with the bottom-placed Latics.
McLeish said: "You need that never say die attitude and bottle to get you through.
"You need to persevere right to the very end but the experience factor could help and we have that as well.
"The good thing about this squad is I believe the lot of them could be Birmingham fans given the way they have committed themselves to the cause over the last couple of years. That should be a trait in every footballer anyway."
Source: PA
Source: PA