It took a while but like the Mounties, Blues CEO Ren Xuandong got his man. Birmingham City confirmed late on Friday evening that Aitor Karanka has signed a three-year deal to be the next head coach of the club. The 46-year-old Spanish coach ends an 18 month exile from management since walking out on Nottingham Forest in January 2019.
Two denied penalties ensured Blues only came away with a 1-1 draw against Brentford on Saturday at St Andrews. The blustery conditions caused by Storm Dennis along with a pitch that is suffering somewhat ensured this match wasn’t one for the ages yet Blues held firm to extend their unbeaten run to ten games.
The last couple of weeks have seen some ups and downs as a Blues fan. The lack of business done by Blues in the transfer window was a cause of outrage for many on social media, while on the other hand Lee Camp’s recent penalty save heroics have been the source for many memes and positive vibes. Is football really this hyperbolic?
A 1-0 defeat to Leeds United on Saturday meant that Blues lie 12th in the Championship, nine points behind leaders West Bromwich Albion and five points behind sixth-placed Preston. With about a quarter of the season now gone, the big question is if Blues can mount the promotion push desired by the club’s owners.
July comes to an end today and the new season is a matter of days away. After all the upheaval at St Andrew’s this summer, Blues will face Brentford this weekend in what should be their last ever league meeting at Griffin Park. Are Blues ready for it?
A well-fought 1-0 win over Leeds United ended Birmingham City’s run of defeats and pushed Blues into 17th spot above Queens Park Rangers. With six games left in the Championship season and five points separating Blues and Rotherham in 22nd place have Garry Monk’s men done enough to end fears of the dreaded “R” word?
Birmingham City made it two wins in two over the Christmas period with a well fought victory over Stoke City. Jacques Maghoma and Omar Bogle both scored Christmas crackers of goals as the Potters succumbed to their first defeat since losing to Blues back in October.
Once again, Birmingham City enter the last game of a season unsure of which division they will spend the next season in. While the situation is not quite as desperate as it has been in previous seasons, defeat to Fulham could ensure Blues go down to the third tier for the first time since the 1994/5 season.
Three games, three wins, three clean sheets. It’s safe to say happy times are here again at St Andrew’s and while worries of relegation are nowhere near completely gone there is once again a feeling that Blues will be safe.
Birmingham City ended a run of seven consecutive defeats with a convincing 3-0 victory over fellow strugglers Hull City. Goals from Jota (2) and Adams were enough to complete a first victory for Garry Monk while the defence held out for their first Championship clean sheet in 11 games.
