We're on our way . . . ?
Martin Paterson, take a bow son.
His fine glanced header was the only goal at Turf Moor that gave Burnley a key win over Sheffield United.
It went down well in Lancashire, putting the Clarets four points clear of Swansea City and Preston North End, who are trying to secure a play-off place.
But in these parts it was just as huge - victory over Preston on Saturday at St Andrew's will now guarantee Blues promotion.
It was Sheffield's first defeat in 12 games, and only their fifth away from home - still the best mark in the Championship, although now joint best.
But no matter about that. Blues have strung together a nine-match unbeaten sequence - their best since 2002 - and won at Watford on Saturday for the first time in 13 league and play-off games since 1972 to pile the pressure on Sheffield, who flunked it on Monday night.
So no matter what Sheffield do on Saturday at home to Swansea City, if Blues see off Preston they will be up.
Too early to congratulate Birmingham, asked Sky's Greg Whelan on Monday night. 'Too early,' replied Kevin Blackwell with a smile before disappearing back to the dressing room.
Cardiff City remain a threat. They can still overhaul Blues. They have their game in hand away to relegated Charlton Athletic on Tuesday.
But it would take a spectacular collapse from Blues who, over the last few weeks, seem to know exactly what they have had to do and how they have had to play.
Congratulations to Wolves. Their promotion has been deserved.
In a league where there is more parity year on year, they have managed to prevail because of their ability to score goals at will.
A lot of people will tell you that they are a breathtakingly dynamic footballing side, who have swept aside all and sundry. But they're not.
Fulham, Sunderland, and Reading, of the table-toppers in recent years, were streets ahead of the rest at this level.
Wolves have proven themselves the best of the class of 2009.
They have been fallible, as everyone else has in the Championship. But to their credit they have put the accent on creating and taking chances and reaped the rewards.
Mick McCarthy is not everyone's cup of tea. However, he's been round the block and knows what it takes. He's a straightforward football man.
And McCarthy bought into the shift in emphasis by Wolves hierarchy after Glenn Hoddle walked out and left them in the lurch as England took on Portugal in the 2006 World Cup quarter-finals.
Wolves went down the honest, young and hungry route; they brought in players with an up-side and a re-sale value.
For that to work, it needed not only the eye of the manager to be sharp - as it has been -but patience.
Wolves promotion has been three years in the making and that got me wondering: would a Blues manager be given that long in the current climate? More than likely not.
Steve Bruce had to get Blues up immediatelty following relegation. Same applies to Alex McLeish.
That's why Eck has taken a different approach to McCarthy's.
Time was not on his side. It was a case of stand and deliver. Hence the experienced hands came in during the summer, the loan market was positively encouraged, the Ulises de la Cruz's were drafted in as short-term cover.
Don't think that McLeish wouldn't prefer to put down foundations for the future as well as address the here and now.
It's just you don't get the chance to breathe when you're Blues manager in the Championship.
Older/Newer
7 Comments
Leave a comment
Profile
Colin Tattum - Mail man Colin Tattum’s view of what’s going on at Birmingham City FC.
Great piece Tatts - i can't remember how many times i looked at the 'Sky Clock' last night when Burnley were 1-0 up! So then - its on our hands..its the scenario we wanted. Full-house maybe? No pressure then Blues! I'm a bit concerned with David Murphy reportedly out for the last 2 games. He's been solid in my opinion and is to bring Traore in at the last knockings may not be good for continuity - shame De La Cruz has gone now. I personally would keep Franck in the centre and play Traore at left-back..Preston appear to play with Parkin & Mellor up top who are big phsyical boys.
Colin,
Spot on about McLeish not having the time to rebuild the side following relegation. Given the constraints on spending he has done really well including reshaping the side in January when he realised the team wasn't good enough.
I know we are not quite there yet but getting an immediate return to the PL following relegation is an extremely difficult thing to do, just look how few teams achieve it. Where are Reading and Derby?
Despite some rumours about McLeish leaving I think he will stay but the problem he will face is will the Board give him the backing he needs to build a team good enough to stay up. Let's hope so.
Lets be honest guys its not just the blues board who were expecting blues to return to the prem at the first attempt?
No it wasn't Mat but a club the size of Blues who have ripped off fans and raked in money year on year should not have even got themselves into a relegation mess in the first place. The way the board have acted the last few years has wound up the fans and they take it out on the team. Wolves are no great shakes and there's been no pressure on them at all.
In all fairness i don't think that fans are taking out the frustrations for the board on the team, and if they have then they should because the board and the team are twoseperate entities. i think at times this season the team have warranted all the stick they have got but then again there second and its in their hands. Fingers crossed for saturday. KRO
I guess you don't follow Blues much Mat as the board are no longer wanted at the club. The two are inter twined because their lack of ambition and reluctance to give the manager his first choice targets impact on what happens on the pitch. The team has got stick because sometimes they have played badly but not as bad as everyone makes out and the fact is that the frustration is because they shouldnt be in the Championship in the first place, that's down to the board giving up in 2006
Firstly, to say i dont follow blues much is a bit of a no brainer really considering im even on here.Secondly they have played as badly as its been made out. Two people who do see every single game and whos job it is to report on the blues (tatts and tom ross) also say so and i believe there blues fans? i dont see them cursing the board through the team? am i wrong tatts?
ill be the first to apologise if so!