Now winless in 5, Blues boss Aitor Karanka has pleaded tonight for the supporters to give it time following a third consecutive draw and seven in total.

Blues fans have also been frustrated with the lack of goals and creativity at the top end of the park. Albeit it was a better performance today against Gary Rowett’s Lions, Blues have only scored 10 goals in 14 games, the lowest outside the Sky Bet Championship’s bottom four teams.

Karanka said: “I can understand it perfectly, because if I am one of them I would feel the same.

“But I am not one of them, I am here to build and I want to make them happy at the end of the season and the following season and the following season.”

Asked if the entertainment value will improve, the Spaniard said: “I hope so because if they are not happy with the performances, imagine how I feel?

“I want to win the games because I don’t prepare the team to draw or to lose.”

Jan Kruger/Getty Images Sport

Karanka said patience is needed after 11 new signings in the summer.

“Of course – patience is needed,” he added. “I was only at Nottingham Forest for one year but I followed something Brian Clough said which was ‘Rome wasn’t built in one day because he wasn’t there’.

“It will come. I can feel the progression of the team and this is the way.

“It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon and it’s a long job. I am calm – I promise them we are in a good way.”