ProfitInMyPocket

Someone gets their head on it and its cleared, so frustrating.

Better ball in from Sykes, well done Rob!

Playing fine but fine won't win us this game. Sykes and JD final ball is really not good enough, mind you the movement from Semenyo, Conway and Weimann has been laborious for the most part so can't just blame them. It's almost like the front three are waiting for something to happen instead of making the moves to make it happen. Preston solid as we all expected, they'll nick it if we aren't on it this half.

How quickly we fall apart without certain players, would rather lose trying to play instead of losing like that and rolling over in a very winnable game. We clear the three set-pieces and its 0-0, even though we had nothing going forward, I know this is easy to say but by the way the game went it's the truth. We didn't deserve anything, Birmingham fought for every single ball over the whole game and fully deserved their win. The times we did fight for the ball in the second half we had some breakthroughs but no clear chances or shots. I'd take Naismith clangers if it meant we didn't lose like that, that was so so poor today. Only positives today for me were Tanner, Pring, Kadji and Martin getting minutes, they didn't play well but at least there's some light in other player's getting an opportunity instead of others who play consistently and don't perform. Our steady XI and style has been found out, would like to see some changes and other lads given an opportunity - there isn't one player who started today who can say they deserve to keep their place in the team, that's how poor it was. The only one I wouldn't drop is Scott, all of them need to wake up. Pearson included.

Pring might be the first person i've seen on our team in weeks who actually dribbled past someone then. I'm getting excited by someone taking on their man, how far we've fallen off.

Really winnable game and getting done in by three set pieces, so sad.

Three set pieces oh dear.

Massengo i think

Go on Kadji, first appearance in the league? Can't do much worse than our midfield already has played. Good luck lad.

Semenyo done alright pinning the defender and playing but Weimann should do much better to get the shot or pass off there.

return of WSM.

Players look lost without Naismith to actually give them a ball in midfield or wide where they might be able to do something.

Can't give anyone any credit this half, not one player performing up to any standard good enough. Fair play to them they're running their socks off and fighting for every ball but we have been woeful.

Forcing us to hook it long and their three centre backs have won everything. No-one wants to get on the ball just in case they get caught out. All of them letting the game pass by, thankful that Birmingham aren't super lethal and the game is still open to swing our way but if we let it go like this then they'll kill us off.

Yeah I know, I just know he isn't flavour of the month on here. Even though he makes mistakes you can see how much of a difference he makes to Vyner and Atkinson too.

Getting pressed off the pitch. Missing Naismith comfortability on the ball to get us going. *prepares for insults*

They're pressing us instantly and looks like we're buckling under the pressure and just hooking it away. Think teams won't let us get comfortable anymore playing out. Going to really need an outlet like Semenyo or Martin to hold it up if we can't play through.

Vyner, Atkinson, King and Conway only noteworthy shout-outs for me, rest weren't even in the game. If you were struggling to sleep, whack that on and you'd hit the hay in no time. Once teams set out to stifle the formation we play the players in, they don't drop back in and gain yards to get the ball and run at them, it is like statues - i'm just willing someone to go and get on the ball and do something but too many let the game pass them by tonight. Alex Scott would have a field-day with the amount Cov sat off.

Loose passes and no runners, infuriating. Shout out Vyner, been really solid.

Asking King to play Naismith role is gunna kill us here

Amount of loose touches and people hiding and not showing for the ball is doing my head in. Atkinson's just ran past three people and not a single pass on the whole way through. People just standing with their markers. Shows how much we miss Alex Scott, he isn't afraid to come get the ball or make himself open for it.

Players like Willock, Roberts and Chair for them were real good outlets and relieved any pressure they had with their carrying of the ball, feel like we didn't have any of that today. Every time we won the ball back they were pressing us in little pockets and we couldn't build up any momentum, kudos to them they have a solid team and can see why they're up in the playoffs but we weren't on it today, too many passengers. Can see why the starting XI doesn't change much, the bench players aren't forcing themselves in at the moment.

Only Semenyo and King really made an impact or done anything off the bench for me so far. Very frantic performance, no control or smooth play since the first ten minutes.

They dominate possession to the extreme, we have to be ready to break when the opportunity comes. They play from the goalie into midfield a lot into Cullen or Cork's feet and can break lines from there and then overload the sides with wingers and fullbacks bombing on. Feeling more confident about this one than I did pre-Norwich, think we can get at these more. COYR.

Next two games against parachute payment clubs going to be difficult and I won't be too down if we come out of those with nothing as long we continue to play the way we are and create chances and give these two a competitive game. Would be nice to see us tear a couple of top sides apart on the counter. If we do lose either I hope it is down to individual errors on trying to play the way we do and not getting steamrolled. Too many times we would go away to a WBA/Norwich/Sheff U and do no way near enough but this team has no fear, let's give it a good go. We've definitely got it in us to do something tonight and Saturday.