When safe, Zola should do the honourable thing

BRIGHTON 3 BLUES 1

Two wins in 21, fifth bottom in the form table for all four divisions. But somehow, six points above the relegation zone with six games remaining. It seems as if Blues are going to survive by the skin of their teeth. Their survival will not be an achievement; it will be a result of teams below struggling to overcome their own demons.

Taking anything away from Brighton was always going to be like climbing a mountain. That mountain was made even bigger after going behind before the clock struck two minutes. For all of Blues` huff and puff, for all of the occasions we claim to be ‘the better side`, we get a stark reminder that football is a results game.

Gianfranco Zola was singing the praises of the defence who had conceded just two goals in the previous three games before last night. His answer to this praise was the chop and change the back three – and the old habits soon resurfaced.

Zola`s record after 21 games in the dugout is the worst of any other manager in Blues` 142 history. Yet the amount of money he has spent is significantly more than any Blues manager in the last half decade. Keeping him in the dugout beyond May does not make business sense and makes even less footballing sense.

Blues fans – who will remain loyal long after Zola has departed – will have to thank their lucky stars that the teams below are struggling to put a run together. Relegation is still a possibility, but you`d think that too many teams will have to put a run together in order for Blues to drop into League One.

I`ll repeat what I said earlier; survival is not an achievement. A season that was looking so promising prior to Christmas, and prior to Zola`s appointment, has gone well and truly down the toilet. If and when safety is confirmed, Zola should do the honourable thing which is to walk away. If he shows even the faintest suggestion of a celebration, I will not apologise for the choice words I`ll vehemently direct his way at St. Andrews.