The point at Barnsley was an important one, not only for Gianfranco Zola to get off the mark but also to stop the rot. And fighting back from two goals down was clear evidence that the players are playing for their manager.
Having said that, Blues’ tendency to concede from set pieces is worrying. As is their current form which reads LLWLLD. In six games (three under Gary Rowett, three under Zola) Blues have taken just four points from a possible 18. If that sort of ratio continues until May, we will be very lucky even to finish mid table let alone anywhere near the top six.
Yet a win can change that mentality completely. Beating Brentford this afternoon will give Blues fans the license to make flirtatious eyes at the Championship’s top six once more. That’s how quickly things can alter.
After the defeats against Brighton and Derby, Zola was cut a lot of slack. After all, the two sides against whom Blues lost are significantly superior at this present time. Then, after going two down at Oakwell, the knives were out for Zola. One reaction on social media summed it up. At 2-0 down, one Blues fan posted ‘Zola has to go’. Then at 2-2, he deleted it and changed it to ‘In Zola I trust’. Don’t you just love the fickle world of football?!
I’d have liked nothing more than for Blues to have taken maximum points from Zola’s three games. I’m also a realist who understands that, to change the whole dynamic of a team, a manager needs time.
Saying that, time won’t wait for Zola. He must start producing results sooner rather than later. Let’s take the positives of Barnsley and use it as a platform on which to build.
Happy new year to you all and, as always, Keep Right On!
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