‘Horrible’ St Andrew’s helped spur Blues on
THERE have been few days at St Andrew’s this season that will live long in the memory. The win over Leeds in August, Jay Stansfield’s debut winner against Plymouth and the comeback versus Sunderland in front of a sell-out crowd stand out. Add the 1-0 win over Preston in Gary Rowett’s first game back in charge of Blues to that list. It was an occasion to savour, not because UB40 performed live afterwards, but because supporters finally watched a team in their own image. Blues were unrecognisable to the team who had slipped to six defeats in the previous seven games.
They were aggressive and fed off the crowd. It was no surprise to see Blues take the lead in the 68th minute, buoyed by the chorus of chants which echoed around the stadium from the hour.
n Hostility played its part
After a week of talk about the prospect of moving home, we were reminded of the power of St Andrew’s.
When the ground is at its best, it is hostile, loud, aggressive and horrible for the opposition. The supporters in the Tilton, Kop, Gil Merrick and Main Stands got on top of Preston in the final half-hour.
Not only did they suck Stansfield’s winner into the net, they played their part in Blues keeping a rare clean sheet to clinch an important three points. Every header, tackle and clearance after Stansfield scored prompted the same passionate cheers that greeted the goal itself. In the five minutes of stoppage time you could barely hear yourself think as whistles echoed across the city.
Rowett knew Blues’ supporters would turn up. The interim manager made sure the players did, too.
n Brilliant Bielik
Krystian Bielik’s place in midfield under John Eustace was never in question and he was among the brightest performers in the opening 11 matches when Blues were thinking of promotion rather than relegation.
Wayne Rooney ripped up the playbook and left Bielik exposed on the field and criticised off it. He pulled no punches in his assessment of Bielik after dropping the Poland international early into his tenure.
Tony Mowbray changed his position to centre-back successfully but there was very little doubt that Rowett would want the 6ft 3in enforcer in his midfield. He has simplified Bielik’s role in the same way Eustace did.
Bielik is putting out fires before they have started, he is protecting a vulnerable defence in a way few others at this level can, and he is playing simple passes to his more creative team-mates. He is back to his best in midfield.
n Rowett’s relentless approach
Refreshed from five months out of work, he has committed to devoting all of his waking hours in the next five weeks to keeping Blues in the Championship. The interim manager, alongside his newly-appointed coaching staff, is leaving no stone unturned.
“Everything is taking up my time at the training ground,” he admitted. “It’s one of those scenarios where it just doesn’t feel like there’s enough hours in the day. We have got to do everything we can to make sure the players are prepared. We have had to play two different formations in two different games, we have had to try and find a way to make the right changes, I think the team needs that energy from the sideline for the game.
“Defensive structure is always the bedrock for any good performance but we have good players and I thought we showed in the final third and in the middle of the pitch we have a lot of quality.”
Three points from two games is already an improvement on the previous six since Mowbray stepped aside on February 19. Rowett has given Blues hope by making them more defensively sound – they no longer need to score two goals to win a game.
n The picture looks better now
At half-time on Monday Blues were sitting inside the relegation zone because Huddersfield were 1-0 up at Stoke. The Potters’ equaliser, combined with Stansfield’s winner and defeats for Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth, means Blues are now 20th, two points clear of the bottom three.
It isn’t exactly breathing space but it means they can’t be cut adrift even if they lose at Leicester next weekend. The picture won’t change a great deal even if results go against Blues on Saturday.
One win down, they are likely to need at least two more, possibly three, to guarantee their place in next season’s Championship. At least they are fighting now.