Diego Makes Blues Fabb

If last night`s victory over Solihull Moors offered any clues on how Blues will approach games next season, the only obvious factor would be the reliance on Diego Fabbrini.

During the first half of the 3-1 win, everything Blues constructed attacking-wise came through the Italian playmaker. His quick feet and quick thinking was too much for the Moors – and when Fabbrini is on-song he will be a match for most Championship defences.

Blues launched attack after attack in the first 45 minutes and Fabbrini looked very sharp. It was clear to see that Blues` midfielders had been instructed to look for him in the first instance. Fabbrini`s ability to find gaps and engineer creative moves from nothing will be a massive positive next season.

After Fabbrini`s withdrawal at half time, Blues lost a lot of their attacking mojo. Obviously, making eleven changes at the interval is always going to disrupt the ebb and flow of a game but Blues lacked punch in the second period.

Fabbrini was instrumental in Blues taking a 3-0 lead into the break. He scored one, created one and had a hand in just about everything else Blues did. His work rate was also a plus – at one point he chased the Moors full-back and clattered him early on.

Inevitably, with his trickery and unpredictability, defenders will have constant nibbles at Fabbrini – and we all know he can sometimes go to ground too easily. But if he can hit the ground running next term, the £1.5m Blues forked out for his services will look like an absolute steal.