Birmingham game key to season's aspirations

After an average start to the season the game tomorrow at St Andrews is likely to give a clear indication of what can be expected this season. Last season Birmingham did the double over us. These are the type of teams we need to be beating home and away to move up to the next level. Can we produce a convincing away performance to banish the memory of some of our wretched away Premiership perfomances last season?

A lot will depend on how Rafa approaches the game. It has been clear for all to see this season that we need to take a few extra chances and make things happen. Rafa's selection tomorrow will be key to how the game will pan out. Will he opt for two upfront? Djib must be straining at the leash to play and make an impact. He had been in good goalscoring form but was given little chance by Rafa to continue, having started the last couple from the bench. It would have been nice to see Cisse in tandem with Crouch last week against Manu. Crouch was, as expected, winning lots of aerial balls and no one was within around 30 yards to move onto his flick ons.

There is no doubt we have the quality, and also now the confidence, to attack the majority of teams from the first whistle. Does Rafa see things the same way or will he continue with a more cagey counterattacking game? Tomorrow we should find out.

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