Chris Hughton has admitted that Blues are going through their worst spell of the season.

But the manager urged his players to elicit a change, and quickly.

After the 3-1 defeat at Leicester City, Blues slid a little lower in the Championship table, to eighth.

Middlesbrough visit St Andrew’s on Saturday in the first of many classic six-pointers remaining.

“Maybe at this moment it’s the type of game that we need,” said the manager.

“We’re going through a difficult period at the moment, which every team does at some stage.

“I’m looking at the Cardiff result the other night, losing 3-0 at home. West Ham, at times, with their form at home.

“Everybody goes through a difficult period and it’s probably the most difficult period we’ve had.

“We need to come out of it.

“And the only way you come out of it is by sticking together, maybe getting a scrappy 1-0 win, which is something that maybe helps you turn that corner,

“But you have still got to have belief in what you’re doing and it can’t be a time to panic.

“Everybody is the in same position, everybody is fighting for something and you need to make sure you keep the spirit high and it can be one game that turns it around again.”

Steven Caldwell, meanwhile, has admitted that Blues were not especially fussed about having to play most of their games during the run-in away from home.

Despite Blues holding an impressive home record, the St Andrew’s pitch has not helped their cause.

And ironically, it was a similar case in point last Saturday at Coventry City’s Ricoh Arena Caldwell felt.

“I was disappointed with the surface. It’s usually a lovely surface at Coventry,” he said. “The lads were excited about coming away from home, playing on a better surface.

“But we couldn’t get it going and it probably affected Coventry as well as we know they like to pass the ball too.”

Blues never really fired in the first-half against their neighbours.

They were better in the opening period at Leicester on a fine surface, but then they were very poor after the break.

And Caldwell said: “The pitch didn’t help Saturday.

“It was very difficult to get two, three, four passes going. Each pass made it difficult for the next guy, it was so awkward to get any kind of moves going.”

Hughton has praised Blues’ support for the backing they have provided this season. And the demands on them have been great.

At Coventry there were 5,755 Bluenoses packing the away section.

On then 1,483 made the trip to the King Power Stadium on Tuesday night.

“Brilliant,” said Hughton. “I have got nothing but admiration for them.

“Not only the fact we had a great support, but they have had to do a lot of travelling this season, with the European campaign and the FA Cup.

“So to support us in the thousands they continue to do, in so many games, is extraordinary. We’ve got nothing but praise for what we get from them,” Hughton added.