Points are all that matters: Birmingham City have good words but fans need deeds

After a run of eight consecutive defeats, words mean nothing to Birmingham City; points are all that matter.

The newly-appointed Blues boss tweeted:

Seen a lot of things to like in our first week. Everyone committed to making it count. pic.twitter.com/ByP3ZTFkEo

— Garry Monk (@GarryMonk) March 13, 2018

Monk took over nine days ago and witnessed two narrow defeats, 1 – 0 to Middlesbrough and 3 – 2 at Cardiff City. Losing to two promotion hopefuls is no surprise but it leaves Birmingham firmly entrenched in the bottom three. If Barnsley win their game in hand, the Tykes will be five points clear of City with nine games to go.

The Blues need a sharp about-turn in form if they are to avoid the drop in what could be a seismic season for the Championship. Sunderland, propping up the table, and Birmingham City falling into League One? Two of the country’s biggest footballing areas are at the sharp end of the Championship stick.

Barnsley face Norwich City tonight at Oakwell, after which Birmingham’s position will be clearer. With Hull City visiting St Andrews this weekend, Birmingham need as many teams within their grasp to lose games as quickly as possible. It’s a real relegation six-pointer, as is the Easter Monday trip to Bolton Wanderers.

Needless to say, the Blues face an intense three weeks.

Monk received a message of support from Neil Warnock ahead of last weekend’s clash at the Cardiff City Stadium, as per a report from Birmingham Mail.

“I’ve got a lot of time for Garry and I’m sure he’ll turn Birmingham City around and keep them in the division,” he wrote in his programme notes.

“Obviously I’ve got to hope that starts after today’s game but as a manager he is more than capable of lifting them up the league this season.”

Warnock and Monk have a long-standing friendship with the former being the first to congratulate the Blues boss when he took out over the reins at Swansea City.

Monk will be hoping the good wishes are the football equivalent of a four-leaf clover. So will the Blues’ long-suffering fans…