Blues winning the mental game

Let`s rewind to last season. Going behind twice at home would usually result in a defeat for Blues. But the mentality has been transformed – Blues are a unit pulling in the same direction.

Unlike the Blues of old, the quality is there in abundance. During a first half of misfortune and a sprinkle of bad defending, Blues were the controlling force. For the first time this season, Gary Rowett`s men had more possession than the opposition who were happy to sit and frustrate and let the impressive Daniel Johnson take their creative baton.

The first goal was school boy defending. Three opportunities to clear the lines were missed before Alex Baptiste poked home at the far post. Sloppy stuff. And after Ryan Shotton levelled, Blues were dealt another blow when former Villa midfielder Johnson curled home a free-kick with help of a nasty deflection.

Usually, that would be that. Blues would chase an equaliser, throw the kitchen sink at the opposition to no avail. However, this is now a different kettle of fish as named on the substitutes bench are players who can come on and change a game.

What Che Adams brings to the table is trickery, pace, unpredictability and eye for goal (his finish was top drawer). It`s fair to say that by bringing on Adams and David Davis, Rowett rescued the game – despite the vociferous minority displaying their disagreement with his decisions. But once again, Rowett knows best.

Having read the nominees for ‘man of the match` I was baffled as to why Greg Stewart was up there. After impressing from the bench in recent weeks, he was fairly anonymous until he was withdrawn after 56 minutes.

David Cotterill on the other hand – the target for the boo boys – sent over telling cross after telling cross. Cotterill`s criticism is often just, but last night, his performance was more than decent.

Reece Brown deserved his start and was in and out of the game. But a lot of it passed him by and it was only when Davis came on that Preston came up against a midfield brick wall. And Lukas Jutkiewicz has made Blues a threat without Clayton Donaldson, something we couldn’t say last season.

But let`s take a moment to appreciate Jacques Maghoma. His quality, skill and work ethic make him unarguably Blues` most consistent performer and for me, he was the best player on the pitch last night.

Another potential banana skin approaches with Blackburn`s visit to St. Andrews on Saturday. If Blues win, the Preston point becomes an important one. I`ll be doing touristy things in Barcelona but will be there in spirit. Give them a shout for me.