Birmingham City appointed Wayne Rooney last month, but the former England and Manchester United man is yet to record his first win in charge.
His tenure started with three-straight defeats and quickly, the pressure was mounting on the 38-year-old.
It looked like he and his Birmingham City side were on their way to a much-needed victory last time out, but Ipswich Town clawed back from a two-goal deficit to take a point at St Andrew’s.
Speaking to BBC West Midlands, Ethan Laird – who made his return from injury that day – said of the Ipswich game:
“We were the better team. But, in football, stuff happens. We showed glimpses. There is a process in place and we’re going to get there.
“Nothing was ever going to happen overnight. But the gaffer wants us to play more football.
“If we’re to go to the places we want to get to, it’s a challenge – and we have to rise to that challenge and show the right mentality.”
Rooney’s appointment surprised many. But the club insisted that it’s because they want to instil a brand of what they called ‘no fear’ football, and that’s something Laird says Rooney is trying to implement
“The one thing he [Rooney] wants us to be is brave,” said Laird. “If we’re brave enough to press teams, we’ll get results. It’s about running over teams and showing how dominant we can be.”
Can Rooney install this ‘no fear’ brand at Birmingham City?
No fear football appears to be a way of playing, simply, with no fear; attacking football, brave football, and exciting football.
Laird’s comments seem to suggest that Rooney is trying to implement that, as that’s what he was brought in to do, and against Ipswich we definitely saw glimpses of that.
Birmingham City put on a good attacking display but came undone defensively in the second half, and that seems to be the key issue for Rooney and his staff.
Blues have a lot of good attacking players, with Laird being one, but they often come unstuck at the back and so finding a way of playing this no fear football whilst also being shored up defensively is going to be tough.
Expect Rooney to be given ample time to try and find a way though. Up next for his side is a trip to Sunderland this weekend.