IT'S been a bumpy ride but Darren Purse has finally earned the respect of the Birmingham boo-boys.

When the 23-year-old arrived from Oxford two season ago, he became an easy target for the St Andrews faithful as he struggled to adapt to life in the First Division.

But now the young defender has won over the detractors.

And his formidable partnership with Michael Johnson is turning out to be a vital cog in the Blues' promotion push as they close in on second spot.

Purse's fourth penalty in eight games kept City's promotion bandwagon rolling against Crewe on Saturday.

And tonight he looks set for a key role again as Rovers boss Graeme Souness prepares to let Matt Jansen and Marcus Bent off the leash at St Andrews.

But Blues boss Trevor Francis is backing his defensive lynchpin to come up trumps in the pressurecooker atmosphere of a promotion showdown.

"Darren's in very good form. He's been very consistent and the way he has played has been inspirational," said Francis.

"He's defending very well but he has the confidence now to come forward and create goals and score them from penalties as well.

"So he's become a very big player for us."

Purse first made the breakthrough into professional football with Leyton Orient where he made 70 appearances in the first team as a teenager at Brisbane Road.

He then moved on to Oxford for £100,000 in the summer of 1996 and his form for United won him a call-up to the England under-21 squad which took part in the Toulon tournament in 1998.

Later that summer, Francis then gave him his big break.

But, after struggling to make the step up, he initially came in for heavy criticism from the terraces.

Francis, however, has stuck by his young protege and that patience is now being handsomely rewarded.

"Darren joined us as a 21-year-old and that's very young for a player who came from Oxford to a team looking to get promotion to the Premiership," said Francis.

"When you are 21, there's still so much to learn in the game and experience is a wonderful thing.

"But he has matured over the last couple of years into a very good First Division centre half.

"Some may say he is good enough for the Premiership, and I wouldn't necessarily disagree with that comment.

"Over the years, some of the best centre halves this club has produced haven't reached their peak until they reached their late 20's and early 30's.

"Darren has dropped a few clangers but that's all part of the learning process which young players must go through.

"It's no different to a young 20-year-old centre-forward missing an open goal, but he's got the opportunity of putting that right later in the game.

"As a centre-half, or a goalkeeper for that matter, playing in such a vital position when you do make a mistake that leads to a goal then it comes down to their character.

"I think that's what's shone through from Darren.

"He's had his critics since he's been here, and not always fair in my opinion.

"But he hasn't allowed that to affect him and he's now got to the point where he regards himself as a first team regular.

"He's become one of the favourites of the St. Andrews crowd because they recognise his effort.

"He never shirks a challenge, he plays every game as if it's his last, he has a tremendous attitude and an indication of how he has grown in confidence is that he is now the club's recognised penalty taker."

Purse demonstrated his penalty prowess with a priceless conversion in the Blues' Worthington Cup final defeat against Liverpool recently.

And, since then, City fans have even championed his case for international recognition.

"I'm not sure about 'Purse for England'!" added Francis.

"But maybe the supporters realise that this country is a bit short of defenders at the top level!" He plays every game as if it's his last, he has a tremendous attitude