FORMER Oxford United defender Darren Purse has issued a "win it for me" plea to his Birmingham teammates before tomorrow's Division 1 play-off final with Norwich in Cardiff, writes JON MURRAY.

The £5m-rated central defender, who was a hero the last time Birmingham played at the Millennium Stadium, will miss the clash with The Canaries because of a one-match ban.

The former England Under-21 international kept his cool to score from the spot against Liverpool in Cardiff to take last season's Worthington Cup final into extra time, before scoring again in the penalty shoot-out.

But his sending-off against Sheffield United in the final game of the Blues' Division 1 campaign has left him banking on his teammates to finish off the job against Norwich and end Birmingham's 16-year exile from the top flight.

Purse, who made 72 league and cup appearances for Oxford United between 1996 and 1998 before his £800,000 move to St Andrews, said: "I want to play in the Premier League and if the lads can get me there on Sunday, then I will be delighted.

"I helped them to beat Millwall in the play-off semi-final and hopefully they can now do it for me against Norwich."

Birmingham are convinced they can end the jinx of the Millennium Stadium's south dressing room.