And then it was eight.
At half-time at Norwich City with Blues 2-0 to the good, they were in sixth place in the Championship.
By the end of play they were edged out but nestling nicely in seventh spot, two points from the play-off zone.
On the back of a midweek mauling by Millwall and a fixture put back to Monday night, the gap has now been stretched to eight points – Blues are in 11th, on 40 points; Wrexham are sixth, on 57 points, having played a game more.
The weekend results weren’t particularly kind to Blues – Derby County, Hull City, Ipswich Town, Millwall and Wrexham all won, Watford too on Friday and we also have resurgent Southampton and Sheffield United who picked up maximum points.
Thus the onus is on Blues to keep apace and elbow their way back up in the standings in what is becoming a quite ridiculous scrap to finish in the play-offs; you could reasonably argue it goes all the way down to 15th place and QPR.
When they are on song, Middlesbrough – Monday night’s visitors – are as good as any team in the division. In fact, many pundits rate them as the best side.
They are in a bit of a funk at present, struggling to make their approach play and possession count in front of goal – successive draws at home to Oxford United and Leicester City have them inward gazing a little on Teesside.
Blues go into the match without the suspended Jhon Solis – sent-off at the Den – and the injured Paik Seung-ho, who hopes to nurse a shoulder injury during the remainder of this season.
Kai Wagner (pictured above), who took a hefty whack to his shoulder at Millwall, should be passed fit to play.
On a sidenote, Lee Buchanan is scheduled to make his comeback from long-term injury for Blues Under-21s on Monday evening, in a PL2 fixture at Middlesbrough.
So, then, the pressure is back on Blues to deliver victory and you can’t scroll social media for the words ‘must win game’ to pop up in relation to BCFC from most fans.
The thing is, Blues hopes of making the play-offs is not going to be decided on Monday evening.
It will be down to their ability to gain momentum as the finishing straight comes into view and take scalps in what are going to be huge forthcoming clashes at St. Andrew’s – QPR, Sheffield United, Wrexham, Preston North End and Hull City all have to visit.
Strap in, it’s going to be quite the ride.
Finding the resilience to grind results away from home is a prerequisite. Blues away form up to an including New Year’s Day is probably going to be costly come the final reckoning in May.
The new January intake have pretty much given Blues a significant boost. They have helped Blues mix their style up, as and when.
But there is also every likelihood that they may hit the Championship ‘wall’ after the initial flush of adrenaline-fuelled endeavour wears off.
Plus, as mentioned above, the levels of pressure and expectation have ratcheted up on Blues – nobody now finds dossing about around 17th – 21st place acceptable.
The last time Blues had accrued more than 49 points in the Championship at this same stage was in 2018/19.
I have suspected for a while that whilst Blues have been competitive and a match for anyone – and better than most at home – on their first season back at this level after the League One title-winning campaign, they’re not quite the well-oiled machine that will tick over and cruise to the finish line – the coughs and splutters have been tangible, not least away.
Coventry City finished 16th, 12th and 5th after getting out of League One in 2019/20. They had to find their feet before becoming what they are now.
It’s likely Blues will just come up short but will be all the better for this season’s experience – as will Chris Davies who has not managed in the Championship before, of course.
The club, Craig Gardner and the AI bots, should be more cognisant of what is needed in the summer window, too, and it seems Blues will still have financial muscle to flex.
I know we all want it yesterday, but if doesn’t happen for Blues this season it’s not the end of all days.
The team, the club, is better poised to dust itself down, adapt, improve and progress as it has been for an age.
