Defending well can bring success

Blues may not be a free scoring, gung-ho, kind of team, but they have the joint best defence in the Championship, conceding just six goals in their opening eight games.

With a base built on organisation and solidity, Gary Rowett’s side have come on leaps and bounds in the two years under his stewardship.

The worrying state of the defence when Rowett took over has been totally transformed. Michael Morrison and Ryan Shotton have formed a watertight partnership in the heart of the back four and that has given the team steady ground to build upon.

If you take away the Wolves defeat in which Blues shipped three second half goals, they would have easily the best defensive record in the Championship.

As it stands, Blues sit level with pace setters Huddersfield and promotion favorites Newcastle United for goals against.

But it isn’t soley down to Morrison and Shotton. Jonathan Spector has been astute and clever and Jonathan Grounds is beginning to come into his own with some assured displays. And of course the midfield have done such a good job of protecting the back four with Maikel Kieftenbeld being particularly invaluable.

You can score as many goals as you like but if you keep a clean sheet, you cannot lose a game of football.

Defending well is an art that can bring success and should not be frowned upon.