Martin Taylor says Birmingham City have no fears about returning to St Andrew's to play promotion rivals Sunderland tonight, despite the fact they were booed by their own supporters the last time they played at home.
The central defender claims that the team's recent upturn in results and the fact they have regained their place in the Championship's top two will ensure a warmer reception from the same fans who heaped opprobrium on the club's officials during the 1-0 win over Stoke.
That was just nine days ago, when anger about ticket prices, the team's performance, substitutions made by manager Steve Bruce and comments from co-owner David Sullivan boiled over into a show of discontent from a section of the crowd.
The catcalls sparked an angry response from Bruce and prompted Sullivan to reiterate his long-standing desire to sell his stake in the club, all of which contributed to a week that, in public relations terms, was as bad as they have ever had.
But with Saturday's morale-boosting 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace safely in the record books it appears as though the sniping has ended and City are free to focus on this evening's task of taking on the division's form team.
"I am not at all concerned about the reaction we will get," Taylor maintained. "We have had a couple of wins and are back into the promotion spots so it shouldn't be an issue."
Taylor also thinks the identity of tonight's opposition could have a galvanising effect: "Playing Sunderland might work in our favour. We are not expected to go out there and thrash someone, they are a good side, and that should get people behind us. St Andrew's has been an intimidating place to come, we want that to be the case again."
Birmingham's cause will be helped by the fact they appear to have rediscovered the defensive organisation that temporarily left them in January when they conceded ten goals in five games including six in consecutive home matches.
But in their last three they have conceded just one: "That solidity has returned again," Taylor added. "It makes difference as well when the goals are not flying in at the other end.
"The midfielders and attackers are working really hard, we have found a balanced back four and in some ways we have taken a slightly more cautious approach because you can't have it your own way in all games, especially away from home."
A big factor in the success at Selhurst Park was the goal and general performance from Cameron Jerome who looked to be repaying some of the faith Bruce showed in him when he paid Cardiff City #3 million last summer.
"It was Cameron's best display for us," said Taylor. "He played very, very well. He took his goal well but his all-round game was good too. He caused their defence a lot of problems.
"He's a young lad and it was always going to take him time to develop but there are signs he is doing that."
Jerome and the rest of the Birmingham side will have to work hard to keep their decent run going, however.
Blues have taken seven of the last nine points but Roy Keane's side are on an even better run having won six and drawn one of their last seven matches, scoring 15 and leaking just two in the process.
Their last outing on Saturday produced a 4-0 thumping of Southend United and two goals for former Birmingham and Coventry City striker Stern John.
Taylor was a team-mate of John's when the Trinidadian was at St Andrew's and knows all about his talents: "He is a good player who's playing well at the moment."
The 27-year-old should retain his place at the back alongside Radhi Jaidi although Damien Johnson — one of the players to attract criticism from the fans against Stoke — has picked up a hamstring problem and is rated as doubtful. If the Northern Ireland international drops out Sebastian Larsson, who has begun the last three games on the bench, could start.
