Mike Schmid believes the crucial New Year’s Day triumph over Birmingham and Solihull can spark the Great Championship Escape for Esher.

The nailbiting 21-13 victory over the Bees in the bottom-of-the-table clash ended a run of eight straight defeats in league and cup for the Surrey side.

It was also their first win since October 1 and lifted Esher into 10th spot above Moseley and five points off that crucial eighth place that avoids the relegation play-offs.

Now Schmid believes the win can spark an Esher resurgence in 2011, starting at fellow relegation battlers Plymouth Albion on Saturday.

The Esher Director of Rugby said: “It was a game we needed to win and we all know that winning breeds confidence. Hopefully we can launch our season from here and we still believe we can get into the top eight.

“It doesn’t matter what is behind us. All we can concentrate on is the games left and it means our destiny is in our own hands.

“If we can win three or four more games then it will make life in March and April much easier because every win counts in the play-offs.”

The top eight go into the promotion play-offs with the bottom four scrapping to avoid the drop into National League One.

Now Schmid expects another tense game at Brickfields against a Plymouth side who are just one place above Esher in the Championship.

The teams drew 10-10 at Molesey Road in October and Schmid said: “It’s another high pressure game against a team that don’t give a lot away and we must play smart rugby and match grit for grit.

“The forwards battle will be crucial. They’ll be very aggressive, very confrontational and in your face, with plenty of lineout drives and pick and go. We must make sure we match them.”

Schmid was happy with Esher’s defence in the 21-13 win over the Bees as they recovered from the shock of conceding a try inside the opening minute as Sam Ulph booted seven penalties.

Schmid: “Apart from that opening minute, our defence was excellent and that was pretty much their only try-scoring chance and we controlled the tempo of the game after that “We have got to make sure our defensive organisation is as good at Plymouth and also make sure our kicking game is smart.”

Schmid made a surprise appearance as a weakened Esher side slipped to a 24-18 defeat at Melrose in the British and Irish Cup on Monday.

It was their second defeat in the competition following the home reverse to Llanelli but Schmid was pleased with the display.

He said: “I had to play because we were hit by flu and injuries before the game. But some of the young guys who appeared did very well.”

But Esher could be without lock Rob Anderson and wing Tom Loizides after both picked up injuries in Scotland. Second row James Inglis is also missing with a rib injury suffered at London Welsh while centre Seb Jewell is battling to shrug off a shoulder problem.

Schmid moved swiftly to shore up the engine room by signing lock Ian Nimmo from Cornish Pirates on a short-term loan deal.