Birmingham City lost 4-2 away at Blackburn Rovers in the Championship this evening.
It’s yet another defeat for Wayne Rooney who has now won just one and drawn one of his opening seven games at the helm.
He took charge with Blues in 6th place of the table but tonight’s defeat leaves Birmingham City in 16th place of the Championship table, and now eight points outside the top six.
Tonight’s game at Ewood Park was goalless at half-time but a calamitous 15 minute spell saw Blues concede three times.
Siriki Dembele scored twice to pull things back to 3-2 with little over 10 minutes to play, but Harry Leonard sealed Birmingham City’s fate in injury time.
Rooney’s only saving grave tonight
Tonight’s game was another one with a lot to pick at.
Defending was once again woeful and although Blues scored twice and mounted a second half comeback, they still lost, and against a Blackburn Rovers side who’ve not been overly impressive this season.
But Dembele’s goals and overall performance was an impressive one.
The Scot had somewhat fallen out of favour under Rooney. Journalist Brian Dick said that Dembele had lost his way under the new boss and Rooney axed him from the starting XI.
But he’s since returned and tonight he was Rooney’s only saving grace in what was an otherwise poor performance.
What do the stats say?
As per Sofascore, Dembele led the game for duels won (8 out of a possible 14), also attempting and completing the most dribbles of anyone on the pitch (4 out of 6 completed).
Dembele then showcased and epitomised this more attacking and daring style of play that Rooney wants to embed at Birmingham City, so the 27-year-old could really become someone who Rooney looks to build the side around having now put him back in the XI.
Still, there’s a lot of issues for Rooney to fix, with most of them at the back.
In the end, Blues scored two goals away from home tonight. But ultimately they conceded four and many of them could’ve been avoided with better defensive preparation.
It’s more food for thought for Rooney who still has plenty of Birmingham City fans to win over.
Up next is a home game vs strugglers Rotherham United this weekend.
Rooney desperately needs another win here as defeat or even a draw would ring more criticism among the Blues faithful.