With City fans growing increasingly restless with manager Pep Clotet and performances from some experienced members of the Blues playing staff, October stands out as something of a pivotal month in the season.
Though Clotet’s men aren’t in a hugely perilous position, currently sat 14th in the Sky Bet Championship standings and seven points above the danger zone, a recent slump which has seen them lose five of their last eight matches – including their last three on the bounce – has caused the manager to face criticism and questions of his future.
It’s not only Clotet in the firing line. Experienced goalkeeper Lee Camp has received the wrath of fans for costly mistakes in recent games, while central defender Harlee Dean’s performances have also been questioned.
Whether City’s manager opts to change personnel or tactical approach in an attempt to boost his ailing side remains to be seen, but the four fixtures in October could define Birmingham’s season and the Spaniard’s future at the club.
Over the next few weeks, City play host to Middlesborough, Blackburn Rovers and Luton Town – with a daunting looking trip to Leeds’ Elland Road sandwiched in between.
Though any kind of positive result picked up from their visit to Marcelo Bielsa’s men will certainly be seen as a bonus, City will surely be looking to pick up points from three winnable home matches to resurrect their campaign.
Struggling Middlesborough head to St Andrews tomorrow night and with Jonathon Woodgate’s side in poor form (and seemingly low on confidence) themselves, Clotet should seize the opportunity to send his side out on the front foot and take the game to a team that are currently in a similar, if not worse, situation than the Blues are currently.
Following the upcoming international break and the aforementioned trip to Leeds, Blues play host to both Blackburn and Luton over the space of four days and will again have to look at these games as real opportunities for three points.
Though City may not necessarily be outright favourites in both fixtures, with Blackburn looking competent and Luton fast-improving of late, they are certainly winnable games for them – encounters where Birmingham will go in as equals (in terms of squad capabilities) and should be looking to use the passionate home support to carry them over the line.
It’s never easy to turn things around when confidence is low and recent results aren’t favourable, but City must look at October as a month of opportunity for them to turn things around and take some of the heat off their manager.