Once again, stuttering Middlesbrough have given us a great chance. Win all of our remaining eight games and we go up. Simple as that. Easy if you say it quickly!
But only once this season, in January, have we shown anything like that relentless winning consistency. Back then we won five in a row, including four Championship games. A repeat of that could clinch promotion.
I might regret saying this, but I think Middlesbrough have gone. No wins in their last four, and a capitulation against Millwall. How they’re missing the talismanic Hayden Hackney, for my money the best player in the Championship. If we’d signed him, we would be vying with Coventry for the title.
Terry is wary of Alex Neil and Millwall in the promotion race (Image: Ross Halls)
It’s Millwall who worry me most. They have found some real momentum after going under the radar for most of the season. Their manager, ex-Norwich boss Alex Neil, is doing a great job.
In the last couple of weeks, he’s outwitted the bright young managers at both Ipswich and Middlesbrough at their home grounds. In both games, Millwall were battered in the first half, but Neil turned things round after the interval. They came from behind to win a point at Ipswich and grabbed a vital late win at Middlesbrough. It really has been impressive from Neil and his underrated team.
If Ipswich and Middlesbrough continue to struggle for consistency, I can see Millwall charging through and grabbing that much coveted place in the Premier League.
But back to the Blues. I think we will all be relieved to get back to actual football at Portman Road tomorrow afternoon after the unwelcome shenanigans off the pitch over the last couple of weeks.
Make no mistake, this is a massive game. We simply must win. Birmingham have nothing to play for. We all know that can work one of two ways. Either they will lack motivation, or they will play with no pressure.
It’s up to us to grab the opportunity. We need a fast start, and take the game by the scruff of the neck. We also need the crowd to get right behind the team. We all have our own thoughts about the Farage Fiasco, but that must not be allowed to affect the atmosphere.
Terry hopes Wes Burns is fit to play (Image: Ross Halls)
I really hope both Wes Burns and Marcelino Núñez are fit to play some part. Kieran McKenna was giving very little away at the pre-match media conference, but I hope we see both of those key players at some point in the afternoon.
Cedric Kipre is back and Jaden Philogene will hopefully be fully fit. So, except for Leif Davis, we’re pretty much at full strength.
Apart from anything, a convincing win will give us much-needed confidence for next weekend’s trip to Norwich. That will be a really tough encounter. The Canaries are a team transformed since their change of manager.
They have nothing to play for and this will be massive for their fans, especially after our relatively straightforward derby win at Portman Road earlier in the season. Do you think Nigel Farage’s name might possibly be mentioned by the home fans?
Will Jaden Philogene be fit to start? (Image: Ross Hall)
If we can beat Birmingham and Norwich, I believe the platform for promotion will be in place. But that’s easier said than done! We will need to be at our absolute best in both games.
Final word on the Farage Fiasco. If you haven’t read it already, I thoroughly recommend you look at James Wall’s latest Star-Spangled Blue column, written for the EADT.
It’s an expert analysis of just how poorly the hierarchy at Portman Road handled the PR fallout from the Farage visit. A very good read. I wonder if it’s been read in the corridors of power at Portman Road?