Birmingham City picked up a potentially important point in the battle to avoid relegation from the Championship on Tuesday night.
Travelling to the MKM Stadium to face play-off chasing Hull City, the Blues found themselves a goal down when Ozan Tufan controversially turned in a corner amid accusations of handball.
However, substitute Lukas Jutkiewicz would strike in the final ten minutes to secure a point for the visitors.
As a result, Birmingham City are now a point clear of the relegation zone in the Championship table.
The point they picked up against Hull City in midweek could therefore prove crucial come the end of the season.
What made that effort all the more impressive, was the lack of options they had to cope with in one vital position.
Birmingham City lacking depth at centre back
Going into that clash on Tuesday night, Blues were particularly short on numbers in the centre of defence.
Following the departure of Kevin Long to Toronto FC last summer, a suspension for Dion Sanderson and injury to Marc Roberts left Birmingham City with just one fit and available centre back.
That was Emanuel Aiwu, who would ultimately win praise for his performance in that match, with some suggestions it was among his best for the club.
Although Roberts could be in line to return against Millwall on Saturday, Sanderson still has two games of his ban to serve.
As a result, this could arguably become a decisive period in Aiwu’s own Birmingham City career.
Emanuel Aiwu looking for permanent St Andrew’s switch
Of course, Aiwu only joined what was at the time John Eustace‘s squad at St Andrew’s, last summer’s transfer window.
That move saw the centre back join on loan from Italian second-tier side Cremonese, until the end of the season.
As part of that deal, Birmingham City have the option to make that move for Aiwu permanent this summer, for a fee of £3million.
So far though, Aiwu has endured something of a mixed time of things in the Championship, not always appearing to have fully settled in at the club.
Consequently, there may well have been some uncertainty about whether that would be an investment worth making, come the end of the campaign.
However, with Sanderson still out, and no other options to partner Roberts – if he is indeed to return – Aiwu will surely be called upon in the next couple of games.
If he is able to replicate his performance against Hull City, proving his importance and reliability in this side, there is a chance he could convince Birmingham City his is a permanent move worth making.
Indeed, Roberts himself is out of contract at the end of the season. As a result, Tony Mowbray will surely need to add some centre backs to his squad once the window opens.
Impressing in this next couple of games while he has this opportunity, could help Aiwu ensure he is one of those signings for Birmingham City.