Desire in Abundance, Quality Will Come

One down, forty-five to go. It is a long and gruelling season in the Championship with lots of ups and downs. Without sounding too cliché, players and teams can take a while to settle into a rhythm.

Although Blues were not at their best against Reading, their desire shone through and the result was ground-out. What they lacked in quality and ‘sexiness`, they more than made up for with effort and cohesion.

Surely, winning after an less-than-average performance is a good sign? Gary Rowett will know what his side lack and what needs to be worked on. At the same time, he knows what the main strengths of this Birmingham City team are.

Games come thick and fast and players will begin to gel. Jon Toral and Maikel Kieftenbeld only looked half-fit against the Royals and others appeared to lack match sharpness. That`ll come.

Toral was a threat throughout and was only fifty percent fit. Imagine the impact he could have when he is fully fit and firing? The same can be said for Kieftenbeld. His positional play was very good, as was his distribution. He just lacked a little bit of energy. That`ll come.

Now is not the time for panic. Blues won, despite not being at their best. The players gave every last ounce of effort and for that, they must be praised. The rest, as I said earlier, will come.

Rowett is right not to dampen the optimism of the faithful. But he is also right not to talk it up too much. He said his aim is to “have something to play for with six or seven games left”. He would be right in thinking that Blues would be overachieving if they finish in the top-six. But that doesn`t make it impossible?

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