Birmingham City face do-or-die week as Gary Rowett battles to rectify severe issues

admin | April 7, 2024 | Other Clubs | No Comments

Birmingham City fell into the relegation zone following a late loss at Leicester City on Saturday.

The Blues’ anguish at the King Power was exacerbated by the knowledge that Huddersfield Town had scored late to defeat Millwall. As a result, Huddersfield rose out of the relegation zone at the cost of the Blues, with five games left in this difficult Championship campaign.

Stephy Mavididi scored Leicester’s winning goal in the 87th minute after the Blues failed to pick him up in the box. Jay Stansfield had previously cancelled out Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s goal, putting the Blues on pace for a point they couldn’t hold onto.

Here are our talking points from Blues’ third defeat to Leicester this season…

Points over plaudits

Now isn’t the time to appreciate performances that don’t earn points. For the third time this season, the Blues faced a club that many consider to be the best in the Championship, but they lost.

The Blues weren’t expected to take anything from the King Power, which compounded to their frustration that they couldn’t hold on to a crucial point. Leicester pressed and probed for throughout of the second half, but the Blues held them at bay until a break in focus.

Full-backs Ethan Laird and Lee Buchanan, in particular, gave it their all. Dion Sanderson was also largely perfect in the middle of defence.

Another late goal

There is, however, an underlying issue that the Blues have failed to address all season, and it has been exacerbated by this string of seven defeats in nine games. A lack of attention late in games could be the Blues’ downfall.

This season, the Blues have conceded 15 goals in the last 10 minutes of Championship games, accounting for nearly a quarter of their total. To back up this devastating statistic, the Blues have only scored eight goals after the 80th minute.

Five of the Blues’ seven losses during this dismal run of outcomes have come from late goals. Gary Rowett has yet to put an end to this troubling pattern.

Stansfield strikes again

Stansfield’s performances have been a bright spot in the Blues’ otherwise disastrous season. Stansfield scored his 12th goal of the season at the King Power Stadium by quickly closing down Mads Hermansen and causing the Leicester goalie to make a mistake.

It was a goal that demonstrates Stansfield’s unquenchable need to press, while others could have let Hermansen play without pressure. That is why Blues supporters have fallen in love with a forward who mixes guile and bravery.

When Stansfield was replaced in the 81st minute, with the scores tied at one, chanting of’sign him up’ rang throughout the away end. Everyone wants it to happen, but first the Blues must stay in the Championship.

Blues’ enormous week

Given the Blues’ poor away record, the points will most likely have to be earned at St Andrew’s. The Blues fell for the 15th time in 21 away games at the King Power Stadium; only already relegated Rotherham have lost more times on the road.

A double-header against Cardiff City, whom the Blues have previously beaten this season, and Coventry this week must provide at least three points. Blues are likely to need four points from their remaining two away games at Rotherham and Huddersfield.

Blues’ fate was never going to be settled in Leicester. However, the next two games hold a lot of importance.

“I’ve seen a lot of qualities within the team over the three games,” Rowett remarked. “We performed admirably at home, with plenty of control. We’ve had two tough road games in which we’ve had to demonstrate some battling traits.

“I have seen both sides of the game, and we are capable of achieving it. We have strong footballers in the group, and we need to find the right balance in and out of possession. We will undoubtedly assault the next two games with a strong mentality.”