Blues opened up a four point gap on third placed Sheffield United, who travel to promotion play-off place hopefuls Burnley on Monday night, with a 1-0 win at Vicarage Road courtesy of a goal from substitute Cameron Jerome. "It puts the pressure on teams below us to get a result. "I know how Sheffield United will be feeling. It is tough to respond to pressure and the more you handle the mental side of the game the better you will perform. "But we have a tough task next week. We have to play Preston who had an amazing result today by beating Cardiff 6-0 and they will come to us full of confidence. "We are carrying a few knocks and one or two may be struggling but there are two games left and players can find fitness when they need to. "Jerome is an explosive player and he can't play every game as he loses his edge. We try to preserve that so that's why he didn't start but I told him there was every chance he would come on. "He was fine about it. Every player is disappointed when they are left out but he took it in the right spirit. "It's all about the bigger picture and we are all in this together."
Elsewhere in the Championship, Wolves secured their place in the Premier League with a 1-0 win against QPR at The Molineux, Preston (who Blues play at home next week) thrashed Cardiff City 6-0 whilst Reading were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Barnsley.
"It gives us a platform and keeps us in the driving seat," McLeish said after the game.
"The goal was a very welcome sight indeed and we waited a long time for it.