Birmingham City manager shares  secret to winning formula

Following Birmingham City’s 3-0 victory over play-off hopes Coventry City on Saturday afternoon, manager Gary Rowett emphasized the importance of the fans.

Sky Blues defender Bobby Thomas scored an awful own goal, before Ivan Sunjic added a second for Rowett’s side. Top scorer Jay Stansfield capped the thrashing with a third goal on the hour mark, his 12th of the season, putting the game beyond the visitors.

This is Rowett’s second home clean sheet since his return, following a 1-0 victory over Preston North End at Easter. The former Milwall boss has taken over as Blues manager for the second time, succeeding Tony Mowbray, who has taken medical leave until the end of the season.

The result propelled the West Midlands side out of the bottom three, surpassing Huddersfield Town and Sheffield Wednesday, who could only manage a draw. It was even more pronounced with the Blues’ new American owners in attendance, who pumped up the crowd before the game.

Rowett expressed his excitement on the club’s official website:

“I think we have shown what we can do. We have shown the atmosphere at St. Andrew’s. We have spoken about that before and how powerful our fanbase are. I think that is five full houses and five wins, so if that doesn’t tell you everything you need to know, it certainly lifts the players, it lifts the intensity.

“It just felt like a really positive day, but it is a positive day because we have worked incredibly hard. The team, I have spoken before, have got a lot of talented players but that is nothing without a bit of hard work and desire, that feeling of having to prove yourself every game.

“That then brings out the quality and I think there were lots and lots of moments today that showed the quality of our players and the three goals epitomise that.”

Birmingham are now entering a critical stage in their survival prospects, as they play relegated Rotherham United and 22nd-placed Huddersfield away in their next two games.

When Rowett was appointed in March, some questioned whether it was a gamble, but it appears to be paying off, with the Blues winning two of their last four games to reinvigorate their chances of staying up.

The two games lost were close, including a narrow defeat to Leicester City. While we hope to see Mowbray return to work, Rowett has not jeopardized his chances of securing the full-time position if his predecessor is unable to return.