It says much about how fortunes have changed for Birmingham City that they can regard the 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers last Saturday as if it was a defeat.
Leading for most of the match, and looking good for another victory, Birmingham conceded a goal in the final minute and effectively dropped two points.
It brought to an end their run of successive victories, which stretched to five matches, but that does not diminish from what has been a fine run of form since the defeat to Norwich City at home on October 17.
Stephen Clemence, whose goal against Derby on October 21 started the revival, and possibly saved Steve Bruce's job as manager, still feels deflated. But the points dropped could be forgotten by the time they completed away matches against Burnley and Southampton.
If Bruce's team maintain their momentum, and Cardiff City continue to drop points, Birmingham could end November on top of the Coca-Cola Championship.
"We were gutted really, it felt like we had lost the Wolves game," Clemence, pictured, said. "We had plenty of chances but didn't take them, that was the bottom line for me.
"It's a shame we missed out on going joint top but we will keep plugging away and we are still on an unbeaten run. We have got a big game at Burnley and if we beat them we will still be right in it.
"Then we have got Southampton a few days later. If that's not a reason to get ourselves motivated, we shouldn't be playing because they are two very big games and we could do ourselves a lot of good in them."
Clemence says that if Birmingham can avoid defeat to Burnley and Southampton, that would give credence to the view that they are the masters of grinding out results.
"It's important we make sure we are hard to beat away from home, which is what we have done during the past month," Clemence said. "I think we've got a bit of resilience about us defensively and the lads at the back have done magnificently well for us."
Overall, yes; but the goal that Birmingham conceded against Wolves still rankles.
Birmingham were pushed off their stride when Sebastian Larsson was stopped by Gary Breen's elbow. It seemed to be a bad decision by Mike Halsey, the referee, who compounded the issue by accusing Larsson of play-acting.
"It looked like the game had stopped," Clemence said. "I thought the whistle had gone. Our team stopped and their team stopped.
"It was a strange ten seconds but then we conceded a corner and we have left ourselves a man short at the back post and have paid the price."
Birmingham can relax in the knowledge that they have a free midweek. They have played ten matches in the past five weeks and welcome the break.
"It's a good opportunity for a bit of a breather for a few of the lads and it's an opportunity to put right a few of the things," Clemence said.
