Birmingham City defender Jack Robinson has opened up about his turbulent beginning to life at the club and reiterated his strong belief that the squad possesses the quality to challenge for a Premier League return.
From nightmare start to crucial contributor
The 32-year-old experienced what he describes as a "nightmare" initiation at St Andrew's, being sent off twice and scoring an own goal in his first four appearances for Blues. This sequence led to significant criticism from sections of the support. However, Robinson has fought back to reclaim his place in the side and became a key figure in the recent 1-1 Boxing Day draw with Derby County, scoring his first goal for the club to secure a point.
Reflecting on his rocky introduction, Robinson acknowledged the support of head coach Chris Davies. "I've been in this league and this career for a long time and there's ups and downs all the time," said Robinson. "I was disappointed it started like that but I've worked hard and Chris has been really good with me. He always said I would get another opportunity and that it was on me to take it when I got it."
Promotion belief remains strong despite league position
Despite Birmingham's current standing of 14th in the Championship table at the season's halfway mark, Robinson's conviction about the team's potential remains unshaken. The former Sheffield United player, who has experience in both the Premier League and the top end of the second tier, boldly claims the squad is among the best in the division.
"It's up there with one of the best squads in the league, we're just not showing it at the minute," he stated. "We've hit a bit of a rough patch in terms of form. We know the away form has not been good enough, we need to improve on that, and we know as players we need to do more."
The away form conundrum
Robinson pinpointed the team's dismal record on the road as the primary obstacle to their ambitions. Birmingham have managed to collect just eight points from a possible 36 in their 12 away games so far this season, one of the worst returns in the Championship. This is severely undermining their strong performances at home.
"It's on the players. We're just not quite getting it away from home," he admitted. "You can see at home we're unbelievable on the front foot, we kind of do the same things away and it's just not clicked. It only takes one game to turn it around and you never know what kind of run you'll get after that."
With Blues sitting six points adrift of the play-off places, Robinson's late header against Derby, which struck the crossbar in stoppage time, almost provided that vital turning point. His performance and goal served as a personal redemption story and a symbol of the fine margins determining their season.
As the campaign moves into its second half, Robinson's message is clear: the quality within the Birmingham City dressing room is sufficient for a promotion push, but converting that potential into consistent results, especially on their travels, is the urgent task ahead.
