Aiden McGeady: Birmingham City have surprised me – I didn’t think they could top Championship with that squad

Birmingham City have taken the Championship by storm this season, but former Republic of Ireland international Aiden McGeady admits he was surprised to see the promotion hopefuls exceed expectations with the squad at their disposal.

Chris Davies’ side have lost just twice in 15 games this season and are level on points with Middlesbrough at the top heading into the winter period.

There are only three points separating the top six teams in the Championship, with Swansea City recently slipping from top spot to sixth.

McGeady said he’d been taken aback by the Swans’ early performances and commitment to their football ‘DNA’ in terms of entertainment.

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Impressed

But now, Birmingham’s rise to the summit has left him surprised and impressed in equal measure.

“Swansea were impressing me until five or six games ago, they’ve only won one of their last five now,” McGeady said, speaking to Casinostugan.

“They have a good DNA in terms of playing style, ever since [Roberto] Martinez and [Brendan] Rodgers, and I’d like to see them back in the Premier League. 

“Birmingham have been surprising too, but they’ve got a really good manager and squad. I wouldn’t have thought their squad was strong enough to lead the league. 

“But they’re leading it just now, let’s see if they can stay up there.”

McGeady: Celestini’s Russian experience won’t help him at Burnley

Unlike Birmingham and Swansea, Burnley are languishing dangerously close to the drop zone in 22nd.

Their hopes of securing an immediate return to the Premier League have been severely dented by their struggle for points under Nicky Hayen. 

The Clarets have struggled to find consistency after a summer of significant squad changes, with the late departure of striker Zian Flemming adding to their difficulties.

Their problems have been compounded by a remarkable run without a home league victory, stretching all the way back to October 2025. 

Owner Alan Pace and the club’s wider leadership took the decision to axe Hayen after just three months in charge.

But the hierarchy then took a surprising gamble on former CSKA Moscow coach Fabio Celestini, who has failed to win any of his three four games and squandered a 4-1 lead to lose 5-4 against Cardiff City.

McGeady, 40, played in Russia with Spartak Moscow between 2010 and 2014.

And he believes that spell will do little to help him succeed in the Championship given the sheer difference in the style of football and physical demands of playing 46 games.

“What can Fabio Celestini take from his time in Russia? There’s not a lot you can take because the Championship is such a different league playing every three days,” he added.

“It’s far more difficult to get a handle on how every team plays and adjust your style.

“Being at CSKA Moscow shows he’s a good manager, but if you look back at Leonid Slutsky when he came to Hull from CSKA, he was a top manager in Russia who won trophies. 

“But at Hull it became damage limitation just trying to stay up. Comparing Russia to the Championship is impossible.”

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Struggling Preston can kickstart season after Saints win

One of McGeady’s former clubs, Preston, are currently rock-bottom of the Championship with just eight points from 15 games.

But a win over Southampton last time out could be the turning point in their season, according to McGeady.

“They really, really needed that,” he said.

“I still speak to a few people down there, and one mate who’s a Preston fan said that after being close to the play-offs the last few years, this season they’ve fallen off a cliff.

“Changing the manager is always going to happen when the team’s playing poorly, but the win against Southampton was massive because Southampton are one of the best teams in the Championship. 

“Hopefully it gives the squad confidence to go on a run and gather some points.”

READ MORE: Paul Lambert backs ‘great’ Swansea City for play-off finish despite recent blip