Time to Roll the Sleeves Up

After the defeat against Rotherham, my first thought was that Blues have bounced back to reality. After a decent start to the season, Blues succumbed to their second successive home defeat whilst scoring nothing.

But we cannot fault our players and we cannot criticise them for lack of effort. A squad that has been punching well above its weight for the best part of a year is now finding its level. The Villa game took a lot out of the players and Rotherham was a game in which nothing clicked.
Blues may again start performing beyond their means, but let it be clear that if we do scrape into the play-offs come May, it is a massive over-achievement.

Gary Rowett must take some credit for raising expectations so much that fans, who previously would have taken a point at home against any opposition, are now disappointed after a defeat that was always on the cards.

But my one criticism of Rowett is his bemoaning of a squad that is thin on the ground. While Clayton Donaldson continues to run himself into an early grave, Wes Thomas and Lee Novak are both out on loan. Surely keeping one of them would have been a better option?

Nicolai Brock-Madsen looks a decent player in desperate need of game time, but would his style suit a 4-4-2 formation, which Blues rarely adopt? Only time will tell but it seems as if Blues have been found out.
With a half fit David Cotterill and an ever-underperforming Dimmy Gray, Blues look lost in the current shape, which relies heavily on wing play. Keeping a defensive unit and attacking on the counter is what Blues do best, but taking the game to the opposition and setting tempo seems to be beyond our remit.

With two away games approaching against Brentford and Leeds before the international break, Rowett is right when he says Blues need to ‘roll their sleeves up`. Point won`t come easy, but Blues, on their day, are more than capable.

Chin up – let`s keep going!