With the unfortunate recall of Dion Sanderson, the injury of Roberts and the exile of Dean, Blues now look threadbare in defense.

Despite another stuttering performance in midfield, together with two preventable goals from the visitors, the last fifteen-minute fight-back could well have paid off if the referee had awarded a clear penalty when a clean through Aneke was sandwiched between two Rangers defenders. Unfortunately, Blues are one of the few teams in this division to receive penalty awards.

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Woods had a reasonable game when he came on and so did the two seventeen-year-olds although their second goal was scored when James failed to track the scorer.

With so many injuries and loan recalls of key players, this was never going to be an easy game against a well-organised QPR team and so it proved.

The loan signing of nineteen-year-old Teden Mendi should adequately fill the space left by Sanderson. I have watched this kid on video and was impressed. His all-rround game is solid. He’s fast, very strong, can tackle, runs well with the ball, can score goals and his anticipation is first class.

With Roberts back alongside Mendi, I expect the backline to be more solid than of late, but the rest of the squad needs a serious rethink if Bowyer expects Birmingham to start picking up points.

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On Sunday the crossing was poor and that needs to improve by playing either Graham or Bela on the right or left. Graham is out for a while although Bela’s injury is not reportedly serious. But he should be played on the right, not the left. That’s where he scores goals because he’s naturally right-footed. Switching from one side to the next is a good strategy but we need him to start putting some decent balls into the middle and if Blues can do that they will start scoring, as at the moment they never really look dangerous.

Woods needs a recall to play alongside James and Sunjic as I thought Gardner was poor and was lucky to stay on after a first-half clash.

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I was surprised Bowyer did not give Bellingham a runout. Jobe looks like a clone of his brother and we’d all love to see if he can play at this level like Jude. My thoughts are that he will be a huge success, so LB must give him a chance against Plymouth who will be no pushovers.

On the transfer front, I understand Blues are likely to announce the signing of another young midfield loanee shortly, although I don’t have a name as yet.

While not beyond the realms of possibility it will take a huge change of form if Blues are to start climbing the table, as the present performances are just not good enough.

Aneke’s goal was a cracker and he was really unlucky not to score again at the end when he was fouled. So against Plymouth, he needs to start.