Back to basics for potential banana skin

After the defeat at Nottingham Forest on Friday evening, it is time for Blues to go back to basics at St. Andrews on Tuesday.

Rotherham United are bottom of the Championship and will arrive in the second-city with the aim of frustrating their hosts. They will sit back and watch Blues try to break them down then attempt to hit on the counter attack. Blues` struggle to break defensive sides down will be well documented and that is the plan Alan Stubbs will more than likely adopt as he tries to drag his team out of trouble.

The onus is on Gary Rowett`s men to dictate the tempo and try to force proceedings. Having said that, patience is a must. The game is 90 minutes long and if Blues can score the first goal, they will have The Millers right where they want them.

Looking at the options available to Rowett, I would opt for a slight reshuffle. If Jonathan Spector fails a fitness test, I would thrust Josh Cogley into the limelight. Basically, Ryan Shotton must play at centre back alongside Michael Morrison.

In midfield, I`d bring back the familiar shape with Maikel Kieftenbeld and Stephen Gleeson acting as the midfield two with Jacques Maghoma and Che Adams taking up advanced wide positions. Then, I`d slot Diego Fabbrini in behind Lukas ‘the Duke` Jutkiewicz.

Fabbrini has been impressive when he has come off the bench recently and his biggest strength is dictating the tempo of a game, something which Blues will have to do. The pace of Adams out wide, cutting in, has the potential to be menacing and the balance is complimented on the opposite side with Maghoma, rather than David Cotterill, being deployed.

Forest was a setback. But with a home game followed by a trip to Burton Albion on Friday, a realistic expectation of four points minimum is not too optimistic. This wouldn`t be a bad haul – but Blues are a side capable of winning both and capable of losing both. Rotherham has all the markings of a potential banana skin.