Birmingham City manager Chris Davies has made a firm commitment to his footballing philosophy, declaring that any major shift in the team's playing style to improve their away results would be "detrimental".
Home Fortress vs. Road Struggles
The Blues have been formidable at St Andrew's this season, amassing an impressive 20 points from just nine home matches. This record is bettered only by Championship leaders Coventry City. However, their form on their travels tells a starkly different story. From an equal number of away fixtures, Birmingham have gathered only eight points and suffered five defeats.
This contrast sets the stage for a significant challenge this weekend, as Davies prepares his team for a trip to face Southampton. The Saints, rejuvenated under interim manager Tonda Eckert, have won four of their last five games, making the journey to St Mary's a daunting prospect.
A Philosophical Stance on Success
Faced with questions at his pre-match press conference about potentially adopting a more defensive, counter-attacking approach away from home, Davies was unequivocal in his response. He framed the issue around the broader vision for the club's success this season.
"To sit back in a low block and be passive, and try to counter-attack teams, and have that as a template would not get us more points away from home," Davies explained. "I have no doubt about that because it goes against everything that we have been working on."
He emphasised that all of Birmingham's success so far has been built on a proactive mindset. "It would be detrimental to us to change and move too far away from that," he stated.
The Balance Between Philosophy and Pragmatism
While adamant about maintaining the team's core identity, the manager acknowledged the need for tactical nuance in different environments. Davies pointed out that the ultimate aim is to win matches, which requires an understanding of specific challenges.
"You need to be compact, you need to pick your moments when you can press aggressively," he said, recognising that away from home there will be periods where the team must be more compact. "Getting all that right is the challenge."
With Birmingham enjoying a strong run of four wins in their last six matches—all achieved at home—Davies's current strategy has clear merits. The team's form has kept them firmly in the play-off conversation, though automatic promotion would likely require an upturn in results on the road.
Davies concluded by focusing on the bigger picture: "I'm very aware that our results at home have been a lot better than our results away from home, but what I'm bothered about is where we are in the league and ultimately where we end up." He added that improving away results would naturally lead to a stronger final league position, regardless of where the points are earned.
