Birmingham City manager Chris Davies has pinpointed a key tactical area for improvement as he seeks to correct his team's dismal away form in the Championship.
The stark home and away divide
The Blues have suffered a concerning seven defeats from their 11 league matches on the road this season. This stands in stark contrast to their performances at St Andrew's, which rank among the best in the second tier. With a trip to Sheffield United looming this weekend, Davies is focused on masterminding only a third away victory of the campaign.
Mastering the moment of transition
Davies insists a complete stylistic overhaul is not the answer, but he acknowledges the need for greater flexibility. He has identified improving in transitional phases as a critical fix. "Being good in transition when the opposition opens a little bit is something we can improve," Davies stated.
He elaborated on the difference between home and away fixtures, noting: "When we're at home, teams sit back and we have a lot of the ball... Away from home we struggle to really create too much with that possession and if anything they are counter-attacking us."
Adaptability is the mark of a good team
The manager emphasised that true quality comes from tactical intelligence, not rigidity. "To be a really good team you shouldn't be rigid in everything you do," he explained. "You've got to win games of football... I think you need adaptability and flexibility to be a really good team."
Davies confirmed this has been a training focus this week, adding: "It's my job tactically to give that to the team and work with them on that."
Potential personnel changes ahead
While Davies has kept faith with the same attacking quartet for the last four away games, changes are being considered. The form of striker Marvin Ducksch has notably dipped away from home, and the manager hinted he may seek more mobility upfront to execute his transitional plan.
"I need to look into what players are suited to which games," Davies said, acknowledging his squad's technical strength but occasional lack of physical presence. "Picking players suited to games is ultimately what we're going to need to do to be more effective. That's my decision-making."
With a congested fixture schedule, rotation is likely. Davies concluded: "These next five games, because of the amount of games, it will be hard to go with the same team for the whole lot."
