Birmingham City have been warned that their promotion ambitions this season will hinge on a dramatic improvement in their away form.
After a record-breaking League One campaign last term, optimism was high around Chris Davies’ side, particularly after the club once again showed strong backing in the transfer market.
However, as the season approaches its midpoint, inconsistency has crept in. The Blues currently sit in mid-table, albeit just five points outside the play-off places.
While Birmingham’s home performances have been largely impressive, their struggles on the road are fast becoming a major concern. St Andrew’s has proven to be a stronghold, with Davies’ men collecting 21 points from 10 matches and suffering just one home defeat. Even so, the recent 1-1 draw with Charlton Athletic was a frustrating reminder that home dominance alone is not enough.
Away from home, the contrast is stark. Birmingham have taken just eight points from 11 away fixtures, losing seven of those games. That poor return has prompted criticism, with concerns that their form on the road is closer to relegation standard than promotion quality.
Speaking to Football League World, Jason did not hold back in his assessment. He warned that without improvement away from home, Birmingham will struggle to reach the play-offs, let alone challenge for promotion.
“Our away form is relegation form, not promotion form,” he said. “We’ve lost seven of 11 and conceded first in nine of those games. That’s unacceptable. It’s baffling how we can be so strong at home and so poor away, especially when the same starting XI is often used.”
He added that the manner of defeat is as frustrating as the results themselves, labelling the performances “nothing short of disgraceful” given the commitment fans show by travelling long distances to support the team.
As Birmingham prepare for a difficult trip to Sheffield United, confidence remains low among supporters, underlining the urgency of the situation.
For Davies, this trend is becoming impossible to ignore. The issue extends beyond results alone, with the team often appearing far less assertive and organised away from St Andrew’s. While home support undoubtedly plays a role, it should not account for such a drastic drop in performance levels.
Whether through tactical adjustments or personnel changes, Davies must find a solution. Seven defeats in 11 away matches is a worrying statistic for a squad with genuine quality and ambition. Until Birmingham become harder to beat on the road, their promotion push will remain stalled — and the pressure to deliver flawless home form will only continue to grow.
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