Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce has admitted that this has become his hardest season in management due to the level of expectation on his shoulders.
Bruce's team brought some sanity to a week of accusations, threats and headlines following the sale of Matt Upson, the fans' reaction to the manager's tactics and co-owner David Sullivan's criticism of supporters plus another threat to sell up.
Their hard-earned 1-0 win at Crystal Palace suggests that recent headlines have not affected the club's promotion push.
Now Bruce wants everyone connected with Blues to unite for tomorrow night's match against Roy Keane's Sunderland for whom former Blues striker Stern John scored twice in a 4-0 win over Southend United.
The Blues manager needed a solid display at Palace following the win over Stoke where it seemed even three points was not good enough for his sternest critics. Bruce wants an end to the 'squabbling and nonsense' so that his team can end their season in style.
The Birmingham boss has a rough target of 90 points in his head which he believes should be enough to take Blues back up to the Premiership at the first time of asking.
But he knows the last fortnight has been "strange" and freely admits he is under pressure because Blues are expected to be promoted.
"The hardest season I've had in management is this one, after getting relegated, the expectation is enormous," he said. "Look at the stats. Only four teams in 15 years have gone straight back up. I can understand why because it's so difficult.
"I thought we were excellent against Palace, it's been a difficult couple of weeks for whatever reasons. Now the test is Tuesday at home to Sunderland. I want everyone to get behind the team, rally round and enjoy it.
"Points wise, 90 has always done you okay. But some of the runs teams are having are quite incredible. Cardiff won, so did Southampton, Derby got beaten . . . but that was in the flaming FA Cup!
"Secretly 90 points, but I can't say for definite that it will be enough. We now have eight games in 30 days and I think I've got the squad to cope with it. Then the nervous 'tickly' bit starts and I think I've got the right blend if people get on edge. We have no divine right to be top of the table."
Bruce also admitted that, despite the apparent in-fighting, Birmingham are still on course to go up. The Blues manager often seems at odds with his board and the sale of Upson appeared to affect him badly.
But seven points out of the last nine seems to have refreshed Bruce's enthusiasm: "A row can sometimes be healthy — it can’t be plain sailing all of the time and sometimes it makes things better," he said.
"I have been criticised that my team don't play with flair, but we have that with our young fowards. But anyone who knows my teams, knows the one thing I demand is hard work. That's what I expect and demand. But there's quality at the top end of the pitch and in defence.
"But the fans saw a good team. We looked comfortable all afternoon. McSheffrey, Jerome and Bendtner always seemed to be a threat.
"In the first half, Jerome was absolutely awesome. I would have to say he's a young lad who will only get better. That goes for McSheffrey and Bendtner too. The club's in good hands with some good young players, they go up and down a little bit. But this was probably Cameron's best performance."
But most of all, Bruce is keen to put the events of the last few weeks behind him: "It's been a strange week, now we have to forget all of that nonsense," he said. "The most important thing, though, is the team and their reaction to what has gone on pays huge tribute to them.
"It's a crisis here when we lose two games. Yet we've been in the top four for six months. Let's forget all the squabbling, it's just a shame all our best performances seem to be away from home."
