Birmingham City's first league win of the season arrived at the Racecourse Ground on Friday night, with Phil Neumann's unlikely brace securing a 2-1 victory over Wrexham. The German defender headed home either side of Callum Doyle's equaliser, giving Blues their first away league win since February and officially getting their season up and running.
The win came after two tough home matches, including a 6-1 drubbing by Brentford on Tuesday, and the pressure was on Chris Davies' side to deliver. They did so in Wales, and now the focus shifts to a critical few days that could define their season.
Set piece kings and a settled defence
Five of Blues' six goals this season have arrived from set pieces, including Demarai Gray's penalty against Bristol City. The summer hire of Scott Fry has been instrumental in this improvement. Fry has reimagined Blues' approach to corners, free-kicks and throw-ins, with detailed routines involving delivery, runs and blocking from those not the intended target.
One notable tactical decision has been sending August Priske to the touchline to take long throw-ins, despite the Dane being one of the team's biggest aerial threats. The move has raised eyebrows, but it has proven effective. The team that scored the most set piece goals in all four professional divisions in England won the titles last season, highlighting the importance of this area.
Defensively, Neumann deservedly grabbed the headlines after the first brace of his career, but every member of the back four – including goalkeeper James Beadle – was superb. Christoph Klarer headed every ball Wrexham hurled into Blues' box, Bright Osayi-Samuel made two vital last-ditch recovery challenges, and Alex Cochrane proved a creative force on the left. After more than 20 different defensive combinations were used last season, Davies has settled on a preferred back four, leading to significantly improved performances.
Now for the bread and butter
After a couple of poor performances at home, culminating in the Brentford drubbing, Blues needed a result in Wrexham. It feels as though Davies' tenure has reached crunch time. There isn't much room to underwhelm, and Blues need to take off from this point – otherwise Davies knows how the story ends.
Davies focused a lot of energy throughout the summer on creating a template for Blues to correct their away form. With a win at Swansea in the cup and four points from trips to Bramall Lane and the Racecourse Ground in the league, the signs are good. Now Blues need to make sure their home form stands up.
Supporters have been spoilt at St Andrew's in the last two years – Blues have only lost three of 47 home league matches under Davies – and it will be tough to maintain such a standard. Blues have to rediscover their touch, patterns and poise at home. No one is saying their newfound physicality or set piece prowess won't come in handy in B9, but they have to be better with the ball.
Critical days in the transfer window
Everyone inside Blues' corridors of power is well aware of the importance of the next few days. The transfer window closes on Tuesday evening, after Blues play Southampton, and Davies is at least two players short. There was a hint of frustration in Davies' words pre-Wrexham that Blues are still searching for a left-winger and a number 10 – two key positions within his set-up – and they have to get their recruitment right.
For the third league game in a row, every player who started at Wrexham was part of Blues' squad last season. The starting XI hasn't been strengthened, even if there is an argument to suggest the squad has been in some key positions. Ipswich forward Anis Mehmeti is admired by Blues and Portsmouth's Adrian Segecic has been linked – the former is more proven than the latter but will likely cost a heftier sum.
Blues still have the money they set aside for Ibrahim Osman – who looks more likely to stay at Brighton by the day – but clubs know they're crying out for reinforcements. You aren't likely to get a bargain at this stage, unless it's a Jay Stansfield-esque loan, and the most important thing is getting players who will move the needle.
This could well be the most critical point in Knighthead's ownership because whatever happens in the remainder of this transfer window will set the tone for the season ahead.
