Pep glad to be 10 closer to safety...

IT’S not been pretty, except perhaps for periods against the Cities of Bristol and Stoke, but Birmingham City are in double figures already.

Saturday’s 2-1 victory against the Potters took Blues to ten points and ninth place in the Championship, completing an incongruous first month of the new campaign in which results have been better than performances.

Two wins and a draw at St Andrew’s are set against a pair of troubling defeats away from home and, in truth, none of their six displays have been anywhere near as complete as Pep Clotet would like them. The caretaker head coach admits there is plenty to be done – but is content with the tally so far.

“I am very happy with ten points by the end of August. We are ten points closer to safety. Until we get safety that’s my goal,” Clotet said.

“The team is still gelling and working a lot. We have so many things to improve, but we keep adding points so everyone should be very positive.”

Blues now have the international break with which to address some of their issues.

“We have a plan for the international week that mixes a little bit of rest, getting a few niggles out of the players – then working with double sessions a few days,’’ said Clotet.

“Our football still needs a lot more polishing, but I was so pleased about the character we showed against Stoke and the fact we managed to play some very good football during the toughest moments of the game and could even have scored more goals.”

Bernard Sun has spoken of his pride at joining Blues.

The 20-year-old has penned a two-year contract to become the first Chinese-born player to join the club.

A free agent since leaving Spanish side Estudiantes de

Murcia in the summer, midfielder Sun trained with Blues’ Under-23s and appeared as a sub in a pre-season friendly against Olympiacos.

“I am very proud to be here and I would like to have a great time here,’’ said Sun. “I try to give everything in training and on the pitch and to always help my team-mates to win the game, to improve.

“I am an attacking midfielder, I like to create, I like to control the game and prepare for my team-mates to score goals.

“They have a very good level. It is quite different to where I played before. It is more physical, they play with a high tempo. I have to find my way to play here and I think I will do it.”

Born in Beijing, Sun moved with his family to Koblenz in Germany when he was seven. He came through the youth ranks initially with Kaiserlautern before moving to Eisbachtal.

From there, the China Under-18 international went to Spain and played for Estudiantes de Murcia and was loaned to second tier side Gimnastic de Tarragona in January.