Birmingham City have begun the season in impressive form but can they keep it up?
Birmingham City picked up another impressive win at the weekend to take them into the top six and to cap an impressive start to the season.
Gary Rowett’s men have taken 20 points from their first 11 games and that tally sees them sitting just five points behind league leaders Huddersfield Town.
A lot can change between now and the end of the season but here are three reasons why Birmingham can maintain their strong start.
Determination and grit
The current group of Birmingham players is not made up of stars or top players like some of the sides above and indeed below them, but the squad is made up of those who give their all for the cause.
The Blues have shown their resilience, determination and grit a number of times already this season with comebacks and well-worked ground out wins like on Saturday against Blackburn.
Team spirit and passion goes a long way in the Championship and Gary Rowett has instilled that into his team since taking the hot-seat at St Andrews, and now he is reaping the rewards.
Two impressive forwards
Gary Rowett knew he had to add fire power to his squad after last season and set about it by signing Sheffield United youngster Che Adams and experienced forward Lukas Jutiewicz.
Neither of the new strikers have been prolific with a combined record of four goals in 15 appearances but both are a huge part of the style of play.
Jutiewicz adds a real focus to the Blues’ forward play, becoming a target for midfielders and wide players to work around and that makes a huge difference.
Elsewhere, Che Adams is a real bundle of energy and his high work rate creates so much space for those around him to do damage.
Adams presence and energy allows players like David Cotterill to do even more damage and you can’t underestimate how big an impact the former Blades’ striker can have this season.
An ambitious manager
You cannot underestimate the influence of Blues manager Gary Rowett who has done a superb job at St Andrews despite some financial limitations.
It has been a fantastic start; a start that few expected when Birmingham were lucky to survive an opening day defeat at home to Cardiff but still Rowett wants more from his side.
As he pointed out himself, Birmingham are the only team in the division to lose only one game but still he’s not quite satisfied.
Speaking on the Birmingham City official website this week, Rowett said: “There’s one side of me that is pretty happy and there’s another side not so happy because you’re always looking at where we can improve and get better.”
It is that ambitious nature which makes you believe Birmingham can really achieve a top six finish this season.
It seems the players have wholeheartedly bought into what Rowett is trying to do and the Blues’ directors are reaping the rewards of giving a young English manager a chance to develop his own ideas.
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