The belief floods back

What a difference a week makes. A stubborn Blues side kept a clean sheet for the second consecutive match, the first time it's happened this season. Our "makeshift" back four of Olivier Tebily, Kenny Cunningham, Martin Taylor and Matt Sadler (who played his fifth Premiership game in three years last night) have now gone 180+ minutes without conceding a goal.

This of course counts for little if you can't score at the other end, but by golly we only went and did just that! Jiri Jarosik scored a belter in the 37th minute and Blues not only held on for their first win in six games, they clambered out of the bottom three for the first time in over six months!

Let us not get too carried away. Steve Bruce has reverted to his strengths, putting out a side that's tough to score against. But his team selection has been one of accident rather than design, as our incessant run of injuries finally worked in our favour. We had two more players limp off in the first half last night too, but again it proved a blessing. Instead of a dour defensive-minded midfield we suddenly had a left and right winger, one defensive central midfielder and one offensive midfielder, with two forwards up top. It's no coincidence we scored our first goal in open play for eight games within minutes of that happening. It might have been two before half-time too if Jiri's second piledriver hadn't skipped the wrong side of the post.

The question is, can we sustain this? Bruce does have a knack of going on good runs, so maybe just maybe we will. But if we are to stay up he must now change the habit of a lifetime and leave his back four untouched. Sure, more "fashionable" players like Matthew Upson and Mario Melchiot may be declared fit for Saturday, but the four who currently have the jersey need to keep it. Our injuries are starting to clear up again, but Bruce must understand that one of the reasons why we are constantly cursed is because he forces players back too early. It's not the only reason why we're afflicted, but it doesn't exactly help matters.

We have the players to stay up, and more are coming back to fitness. Last night and Saturday proved that - when you put the lesser lights in - they have the desire too. Blues might yet confound everyone - especially myself - and pull off another great escape, but until this mini blip becomes a solid run of results I'm not going to hold my breath. How Blues perform at Wigan in Saturday's tea-time kick off (maybe I will just purchase the Prem Plus game) will be an indication of how serious they are about trying to stay in this accursed league. Maybe I won't be seeing Blues play in East Anglia next season after all...

[Listening to: Suddenly I See (Radio Version) - K T Tunstall]