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Blues must add to QPR’s away day woes

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Queens Park Rangers visit St. Andrews tomorrow afternoon with pressures of their own. Ian Holloway`s men sit three places and six points above Blues and are winless in their last 17 away Championship fixtures.

Their last away win? A comfortable 4-1 rout at St. Andrews against Gianfranco Zola`s Birmingham City? obviously.

It was the 18th February. Blues were in the middle of a slump and QPR tore them to pieces on that day. For many, it should have signalled the end of Zola`s reign but he lived to fight another day? or two months to be precise.

Holloway`s troops have picked up just four points on the road this term. The only team with an inferior points return away from home is, of course, Blues.

The murmurings of discontent amongst the West London natives are beginning to increase. The days of a blue and white hoop invasion at the top end of the Championship are over and they now find themselves treading unsteady waters – similarly to Blues – in an attempt to avoid the drop into the third tier.

For both clubs, tomorrow`s clash is massive. Steve Cotterill will see this as a good opportunity to pick up three points, likewise Holloway, who will be eyeing this clash as a perfect chance to end their away day woes.

Blues tend to fare slightly better in front of their own fans. They have won four games from 10 at home this season, two (Cardiff and Forest, both 1-0) since Cotterill`s appointment who has also overseen two defeats (Brentford 0-2 and Wolves 0-1) and a draw (Villa 0-0) during his five at the helm.

Blues have only conceded three goals at St. Andrews under Cotterill`s watch but their problems lie firmly at the other end where they have netted just two goals. By comparison, QPR have conceded 18 away goals.

Blues haven`t won back-to-back games this season but with a trip to Sunderland, who haven`t won at home for a calendar year, to follow next weekend, they probably won`t get a better chance to. On paper, both games look winnable but as we know, football isn`t played on paper. Anything less than four points will be deemed a failure.

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