Luke Turner looks ahead to the tough Christmas period…
Saturday’s defeat at the hands of Barnsley is done and dusted, let`s move on. It was an uncharacteristic defeat from Blues and just our fourth loss all season.
Yes, it would’ve been ideal to get three points out of the game due to our tough run of fixtures coming up but these sort of games happen during a season and we have to accept that we just weren’t good enough and Barnsley were better than us.
The next few fixtures will really pose a test for Blues both in terms of physically and also mentally.
Our next four games include Newcastle, Ipswich, Brighton and Derby. Two of those teams currently occupy the automatic promotion spots, one is on a great run of form and on the brink of the place offs and the other, Ipswich, could be a potential banana skin.
The mental resolve of the team really will be tested and coming up against sides who will most likely get promoted this season and that have spent shed loads of money could end horribly if we don’t turn up.
The aim going into the new year must be that we are still there or there about around the play off places.
But, there’s no denying that it’s going to be a tough ask of the players to pick up points against these sides. However, we have already seen this season against the likes of Norwich and Sheffield Wednesday that we do have the ability to beat these teams and pick up three points.
The two home games against Ipswich and Brighton would be where I really target maximum points.
I don’t think anyone expects us to get anything from Newcastle away on Saturday and it would be a bonus if we did.
If we can just maybe take a few points to just keep us ticking over and in the mix then that would be a successful Christmas period.
It’s getting extremely tight in and around the top six and it really is up for grabs at present. Last Saturday`s defeat and this tough run of fixtures mustn’t affect what Gary Rowett and the team have built up.
We have the team spirit, determination and even bits of quality that can help us through these games and it`s important that the players go into these games with full confidence.