Blues go boinging in fine fettle into the Hawthorns on Wednesday for the first time in a long time.
The derby against West Bromwich Albion seems potentially a pivotal clash for both sides.
And Blues right now are in a confident and positive frame of mind as they prepare for the showdown under the lights.
Brushing aside Norwich City in the 150th Anniversary game was the third consecutive home game where they had scored four goals. The last time that happened was back in 1958.
Blues looked every inch a side that knows and is comfortable with its own identity and style. There was a bit of a swagger in their play too as they popped the ball about.
With new players more assimilated and tweaks from last season made, they seem to have now settled into Championship life.
Coming on the back of the new £1.2 billion stadium reveal as well, the feeling around the place on Saturday was of a club on an upward trajectory.
Norwich, by contrast, appeared bereft of confidence and a bit of a mess. Blues were ruthless in ensuring there was not even a hint of new manager bounce under Philippe Clement.
Sorting out their away form is, obviously, a key now to turning Blues into genuine promotion contenders.
They have played well on their travels, against plenty of the Championship’s stronger side, but often lacked the necessary clinical punch. It is five defeats in eight on the road.
Albion are no mugs at home. But there is pressure building around the Hawthorns and boss Ryan Mason is feeling a bit of heat.
The Baggies surrendered a two-goal lead in losing to Coventry City on Saturday and that made it five losses in the last eight games.
Albion are methodical in their play generally and redoubtable defensively at home. But they do carry threats.
Blues can expect to have plenty of possession on Wednesday evening and it is how productive and incisive they are with it that is likely to be telling.
At the top end of the park now Marvin Ducksch is over injury and up to speed, it has made a positive difference to Blues.
The former German international scored his first two goals for Blues in the 4-1 victory over Norwich. But his all-round play as an attacking focal point was just as important.
Jay Stansfield – who also helped himself to a pair against the Canaries – seems to thrive playing alongside Ducksch.
Manager Chris Davies remarked: “Marvin, we know the qualities he has got, how he links and brings others into play and by his intelligence and presence creates more chances for the players around him. But what he did (Saturday) was scores goals as all nines want to do, as all strikers want to do.
“He was in the right place at the right time. They were good team goals, to be fair. And he has arrived in the right spot to finish them.
“I think for his confidence, that’s what strikers really want – goals.”
Stansfield took his tally for the season to nine on Saturday.
Davies told Radio WM: “Jay’s found a nice position and connection with Marvin and also the left winger, Demarai Gray, around him. He is combining really well.
“He’s free to move more, and use his energy and pace. And he is a goalscorer. He always will be, whether he plays left, as a 10 or nine, he will always score goals.
“The link up, the chemistry between those players, has been really encouraging the last few matches.”
Gray himself agrees that things are beginning to ‘click’ for Blues, and the frontline with Ducksch to the fore.
“Marvin played his first game and got injured but since he’s come back in he’s been great,” said Gray.
“I think his all-round play has been good and the relationship me, him and Pat (Roberts) have at the minute has been really good.
“I’m delighted for him to get two goals because he’s been working hard for the team.”
Scott Hogan’s hat-trick provided Blues with a 3-2 win on Albion soil in September, 2022.
That was Blues first victory at the Hawthorns in 17 years.
The last meeting in Sandwell was a 1-0 defeat for Tony Mowbray’s Blues, with Andreas Weimann scoring an 85th minute winner.
So, the Hogan anomaly apart, it hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Blues in recent times; they have more often gone there in hope rather than expectation.
Could that all change on Wednesday evening?
