Boss aims to build team of pass masters.

BLUES are showing signs of being a better team than a year ago, when they recorded their best ever start to a league campaign.

That has heartened Alex McLeish, who said they remained "a work in progress".

"The one thing the boys have got is fantastic spirit," he said.

"That has been cultivated and harnessed over the last seasonand-a-half.

"They keep trying and I think there's an improvement in quality since the start of the Championship last season.

"I don't mean player-wise but in terms of our passing.

"We encouraged them to pass it at Old Trafford against Manchester United and they all did that.

"The players are taking more responsibility with the ball now than they did last season."

In Blues' last two Premier League campaigns, which ended in relegation, they lost two and drew one of their opening three matches.

So far this season they have four points from a win, draw and loss.

Barry Ferguson, a key cog in Blues' new approach, said his knowledge of McLeish's methods at Rangers and with the national team appealed when he decided to make the switch south.

"He is a passionate man, a bit like myself, who wants to win every game.

"I enjoyed myself under him with Scotland as well. That was a big pointer in me coming here.

"But, as well, he wanted to change the way we play, try and pass the ball about a bit more, and you can see that in the games at times."

CAPTION(S):

Passion: Barry Ferguson.