Given the investment that has gone into the Blues squad, you can’t imagine too many neutrals will be queuing up to give the West Midlands outfit credit, as promotion was expected to be a formality.
However, all connected to Birmingham believe this is just the start of the journey, as the ambitious US owners don’t plan on stopping when the club return to the second tier, as the target is the Premier League.
If, or when, Birmingham do get back among the elite, the challenge will be to establish the club at that level – which is becoming increasingly difficult.
Yet, Blues have form when it comes to defying the odds as a promoted club, with Alex McLeish’s side finishing 9th in the Premier League in 2009/10 after they had gone up.
Whilst it was a real team effort, there’s no doubt that the arrival of Joe Hart was pivotal that summer.
