The one thing you can’t accuse Blues of is not having an indomitable spirit.
It doesn’t take you all the way to your particular zenith, but it takes you a long way.
That’s why it’s important Alex McLeish’s squad don’t lose their feisty nature, or become complacent.
In the opening two Premier League match Blues have recovered apparently lost causes: 2-0 down at Sunderland, 1-0 adrift to Blackburn Rovers.
Tonight’s Carling Cup tie at home to Rochdale shouldn’t be as problematic. But you never know as responding to adversity and surprises have become something of a stock in trade.
“I’m a broken down record again, I’m afraid, but you have to praise the spirit, the character these guys have,” said McLeish.
“There will be a day when it doesn’t work out for us but they can’t be persuaded to give up. That’s their mentality.
“Sometimes you go through games and you think ‘these guys are going to chuck it, now, two down’, and how could they come back at Sunderland?
“But they don’t allow themselves to be persuaded to chuck it and they keep going to the end.
“Blackburn was a tough game and we could have lost it but the spirit of the players and the resilience of them – fantastic.
“I need to find some new words because I used these words every week last season. I need to get the Oxford Dictionary out.”
Tonight’s cup tie should see McLeish ring the changes as he seeks to give a run out to those players who have been itching to figure.
He showed he wasn’t afraid to alter the team after the Stadium of Light and although competition is healthy for a manager, it does test the ability to keep all of the squad on-side.
Lee Bowyer was axed for Blackburn’s visit as McLeish opted to provide Craig Gardner with an opportunity.
McLeish said: “I had a tough decision leaving a top player like Bowyer out, but I felt the time was right for Gardner because he’s had a good pre-season and he’s been fizzing balls into the net in training and scored a couple in pre-season.
“My gut feeling was he deserved a crack because the longer he goes not playing in the team it can affect morale.
“Players will be smarting with me for leaving them out but it’s my job and I’ve been in it a long time and I always give players respect before a game and tell them in advance I’m making a change.”
