While Blues’ Championship future has been secured for another season at least, there is an awful lot still up in the air as the final game of the season approaches. Fans still do not know what is happening with respect to the repairs of the lower Tilton and Kop stands, while on the pitch Lee Bowyer’s position as Blues boss seems very uncertain despite the remaining year on his contract.
There have been better weekends to be a Blues fan. Losing 4-2 to Coventry having been 2-0 up was a bitter pill to swallow, but getting humped 6-1 away to Blackpool the very next game just shows what a mess the team is in. Lee Bowyer looked a broken man sitting in the dugout at half time, and his post-match interview only seemed to confirm he’s losing the will with some of his players.
Saturday saw Birmingham City not only lose 2-0 to Huddersfield Town, but also two players to injury. Montserratian striker Lyle Taylor pulled up in the warm-up to leave Blues with one fit senior striker while Maxime Colin’s injury during the first half ensured Blues now have only one fit defender.
There are some things about Birmingham City you can take as absolutely nailed on to happen – because it’s Birmingham City. Face a team which has just been humbled by a non-league side in the FA Cup a few days ago? You can guarantee they’ll be on their game for when Blues come to town. Come out of the transfer window with only five senior defenders in the squad? You better believe you’ll lose more than half of them in less than two weeks.
If you’d have told me in the wake of the three-nil humping handed to Blues by Bristol City back in March that Blues would be mathematically safe with two games to go, I’d have laughed. Yet a 2-1 comeback win against fellow strugglers Derby County has done just that, putting Blues in a nosebleed 16th place to boot.
72 hours waiting for 21 words. Just over three days after Birmingham City rolled over and had their tummies tickled by Bristol City, Aitor Karanka’s reign as Birmingham City came to an end. No “thank you”, no “good luck” – just a terse two sentences confirming the Spaniard had exited the building.
