The pressure is intensifying on Birmingham City head coach Chris Davies as his team's alarming slump in the Championship continues. The Blues are languishing in 17th place and face a daunting home fixture against league leaders Coventry City this Sunday.
Grim Run of Results Piles Pressure on Davies
Birmingham City have failed to win any of their last seven Championship matches, a dire run that has seen them slide down the table. After 25 games, they find themselves a significant nine points adrift of the play-off places. The poor form was compounded by a 3-0 defeat away to Watford on New Year's Day, a result that has left fans and pundits questioning Davies's future.
Sky Sports reporter Simeon Gholam delivered a stark verdict on the situation, stating the manager will "no doubt be feeling the pressure." Gholam highlighted the stark contrast from early December, when a victory over Watford had Birmingham just a point from the top six. "It has been a pretty grim run for Birmingham City," Gholam said, noting the team's dramatic fall to 17th.
A Crucial Clash Against the League Leaders
The timing of the crisis is far from ideal, with Coventry City arriving at St Andrew's this weekend sitting top of the Championship. The Sky Blues have built an eight-point lead over nearest challengers Ipswich Town, though they have stumbled slightly in their last two outings with a defeat and a draw.
For Davies, who successfully guided Birmingham to promotion from League One last season, this match represents a critical opportunity to halt the slide. A positive result is desperately needed to ease the growing scrutiny on his position. The club's hierarchy have stuck by him so far, but another heavy defeat could force their hand.
What Next for Birmingham City?
Should the board decide to make a change, they would have a pool of available managers to consider. Out-of-work bosses like Gary O’Neil, Michael Carrick, and Will Still could be options, while in-work candidates such as Millwall's Alex Neil are likely to be admired. The name of England U21 coach Lee Carsley is also perennially linked with the St Andrew's hot seat.
Meanwhile, the club is active in the January transfer window, having already secured the signing of left-back Kai Wagner from Philadelphia Union. Further reinforcements could provide Davies, or a potential successor, with the tools to turn the season around. However, all eyes will be on Sunday's high-stakes encounter, where the future of Chris Davies at Birmingham City could be decided.
