Two games into Gary Rowett's reign at Birmingham City, and already things are looking a lot brighter for the club ahead of their match against Cardiff City at St Andrew's on Saturday.
The Lee Clark era was beset by home woes as the former boss guided the club to a dreadful run of just one win in 24 league matches at St Andrew's, while the one match under caretaker control saw things plummet to new depths as they were hammered 8-0 by Bournemouth in front of their own fans.
However, it is one win from one home game under Rowett, and what a victory it was. The Blues stunned league leaders Watford with a 2-1 triumph on Tuesday, ending a run of four consecutive home defeats and seven without a win.
Those three points made it four from two matches under the former Burton Albion boss, but he still has a long way to go to drag his new side out of trouble.
The Midlands outfit remain in the bottom three, while only Blackpool have a worse goal difference, but victory this weekend could see them move out of the relegation zone and potentially as high as 17th.
Rowett is unlikely to want to change too much following the impressive victory, but he could recall Wes Thomas to the starting lineup in place of Andrew Shinnie. Clayton Donaldson, meanwhile, will retain his place up front following his midweek brace.
While Birmingham's home form is notoriously bad, Cardiff have been equally poor on their travels so far this season.
The Bluebirds come into this match having lost their last three away games against relegation candidates Blackpool, Millwall and Bolton Wanderers, failing to score a single goal in that time.
Indeed, only Blackpool and Bolton have picked up fewer points on the road this season, with Cardiff one of just two teams yet to win an away game in the Championship.
No fewer than 18 of Cardiff's 22 points have come in front of their own fans and, following their 3-0 defeat at the hands of Bolton on Tuesday, they will not relish travelling to a seemingly rejuvenated Birmingham.
Should Russell Slade's side be able to dig out a victory, however, then they would edge ever closer to the playoff places, which are quickly becoming a realistic possibility once more following their poor start to the season.
The visitors could opt to make a change in search of an elusive away goal having managed a league-low four this season, with Ravel Morrison potentially coming in to add more creativity.
Recent form
Birmingham: WDLLLD
Cardiff: LWLWWL
Possible starting lineups
Birmingham: Randolph; Caddis, Grounds, Morrison, Robinson; Arthur, Davis, Gleeson, Cotterill, Thomas; Donaldson
Cardiff: Marshall; Brayford, Manga, S Morrison, Fabio; Pilkington, Gunnarsson, Whittingham, R Morrison; Macheda, Le Fondre
Sports Mole says: 2-0
No Data Analysis info
