Small beer in the grand scheme of things, but it’s important that Blues finish this season with a flourish.
They moved into 10th place following midweek victory over Preston North End. And should they stay there after the last two matches, it would be the club’s highest finish in a decade.
Gary Rowett’s Blues ended 10th in 2014/15 and 2015/16, on 63 points.
Rowett’s side had a clear identity, was more defensively-minded and was greater than the sum of its parts. That was Blues then in the Championship.
There were, of course, lofty aims and bullish soundbites before a ball was kicked this season. Another active summer transfer window off the back of a record-breaking League One title-winning campaign ratcheted up the optimism.
The club and Chris Davies have found the harsh realities of life at this level all too prevalent. Mistakes have been made and there are lessons to be learned if Blues are to take that next step and becoming a consistent presence in the top six, let alone the top two.
We have gone over the reasons previously on these pages and on the Forever Blues podcast. End-of-season reviews will shed more light on the needs must.
For now, it seems there has been a recognition – probably since January, when a raft of new signings were accrued – that Blues have to alter their ways and be more Championship suited.
Seven points from the last nine, and with a final home game to come against another middling side Bristol City on Saturday at St. Andrew’s, Blues have the opportunity to end the campaign in a positive frame of mind.
Davies has tweaked the way Blues have played by getting players to pass forwards, run forwards and beyond a lot quicker. The niceties of possession football have been replaced by a more basic and direct version. And he has settled on his rotations around those who are going to be here next season.
Too little, too late, I hear you cry. Well, yes. But the point is what if there was a blind devotion to the bitter end of doing the same old, same old?
It’s not a crime to recognise failings, adjust and address them.
After the draw at Hull City, Davies commented: “Our template in the last few games has been to not invite pressure, to make sure we’re getting the ball forward and becoming more of a threat in the games. By keeping it more simple for the players we have looked more of a threat.”
Many people may not like it, but this season could ultimately go down as an experimental one for a rookie manager at this level combined with a stress test of just how aligned recruitment has been to team stylistic needs and Championship requirements.
As I mentioned, lessons to be learned. And no doubt high on the agenda to address is the awful away form – only Oxford United and Sheffield Wednesday have taken fewer points on the road.
But for the here and now, it would be welcome if Blues could win again against the Robins and continue to show they are pointing in the right direction.
The team has shown a lot more resilience of late – another Championship prerequisite – and in regard to the loan players, we have seen major clues.
Ibrahim Osman (pictured) is a real wildcard and was the architect of Blues surging into a 2-0 lead by the 16th minute against Preston, assisting for Jay Stansfield to break his goal drought and then finding the back of the net himself.
Davies would like him back from Brighton & Hove Albion if it was doable.
Jhon Solis has beefed up Blues midfield considerably since arriving from Girona in January.
About Solis, Davies has said: “There won’t be many more physical sixes in the league. He’s a good size. When the game opens up a bit he can use his power.
“The challenge for him is to keep playing quickly, keep playing two touch, keep playing forward. There’s loads of growth there if he really wants to push on to the next level and I’ve told him that – I’ve been talking to him about that a lot.”
Tommy Doyle looks set to return to Wolverhampton Wanderers, having only had five minutes off the substitutes bench in the last four matches since starting in the 1-0 defeat by Blackburn Rovers at home.
What Blues plan to do about James Beadle – or perhaps, what Brighton plan to do – is intriguing.
The England Under-21 goalkeeper is highly thought of at the club but, as we saw against Preston for their goal and then his saves, Beadle has tended to have unconvincing moments as well as make key contributions.
He has been effectively learning on the job and gaining more experience that will make him a better players in the years to come . . . courtesy of Blues. Would the club go down that route again next season?
