Birmingham City have identified key areas for improvement after a season defined by a stark contrast between their home and away performances. Chris Davies' side excelled at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park, where they secured 44 points from 69 available, winning 12 of 23 home games. Only Coventry and Ipswich Town achieved more home points.
Away Struggles
On the road, however, Blues were among the worst in the Championship. Only West Brom, Oxford United, and Sheffield Wednesday accumulated fewer away points. Birmingham won just five away matches—against Blackburn, Preston, Sheffield Wednesday, Oxford, and Norwich—and ended the season without a victory in six away games. They suffered four 3-0 defeats on their travels and managed only 18 away goals, a tally surpassed by all but Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke.
Fan Frustrations
The financial burden on supporters was significant. An adult season ticket holder for every away league game paid £741.50, excluding travel, food, and drinks. Their frustrations boiled over at times, particularly after a disappointing defeat at Derby County, where a bewildering team selection led to a poor performance.
Davies reflected on the away form: "With the ball, there's been a lack of strength and personality we show at home. We get knocked off the ball easily and lose possession. We've had too many moments where teams are on top of us."
A New Template
In the final matches, Davies simplified the team's approach, reducing risks in defensive areas and fielding more physical players to win duels. This change made Blues more competitive, earning a draw at Ipswich, a point at Hull, and a strong performance against Portsmouth. Davies described it as "a good template," adding: "We're not inviting pressure, we're getting the ball forward and counter-attacking more."
If Birmingham can maintain their home record while improving away performances, they could mount a genuine promotion challenge next season. As Davies noted, they don't need to be brilliant away—they just can't be that bad again.
