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Opinion: Blues Clinging on to Top Six

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There is no shame in a 2-1 loss at undefeated Brighton, but Blues` current form reads LLDWLL. Somehow, Blues remain in sixth place but the gap between them and the chasing pack has drastically narrowed.

Earlier in the season, Gary Rowett said the aim was to ‘be in a competitive position with five or six games to play`. That`s a realistic aim, but holding down a play-off place is looking more and more unlikely. And that isn`t a criticism of Blues, more an acceptance of realism. If Blues finish in the top six, a statue of Rowett should be erected outside St. Andrew`s.

At the Amex on Saturday, Blues had some very bright spells, most notably Jon Toral`s effort that whiskered wide with the score a 1-1. However, Chris Hughton has made his Brighton side a tough nut to crack and it`s an achievement in itself that they sit top of the table without a defeat after 18 games.

It`s back to bread and butter football next weekend and it is important for Blues to end their home hoodoo against Huddersfield. Another defeat would almost certainly see Blues drop out of the top six for the first time since 26 September.

Reading that last paragraph highlights the cracking job Rowett and his backroom staff are doing. To take a team like Blues, packed full of freebies from lower leagues, loans and a couple of foreign imports, to the heady heights of the most competitive league in world football is a marvellous accomplishment.

Whether Blues will be up there come April or May remains to be seen, but the optimism will hang around for as long as Rowett is in the dugout.

Twitter @TheWildeyShow

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