Apart from back-to-back top-10 finishes under Rowett in 2015 and 2016, the Blues have largely struggled in the second tier.
Three times they took until the last day to secure survival – and all three included their longest-serving player Lukas Jutkiewicz:
2014: Bolton Wanderers 2-2 Blues
Second-half goals from Bolton duo Lee Chung-yong and Jutkiewicz put the Blues behind, who were 2-0 down with 12 minutes remaining.
But Nikola Zigic’s 78th-minute header gave them hope before Caddes grabbed a 93rd-minute equalizer in a mad dash when two efforts were instead blocked on the line to send Doncaster Rovers down.
2017: Bristol City 0-1 Birmingham
Jutkiewicz was in a Blues shirt this time, setting up the only goal for Chey Adams as manager Harry Redknapp worked his magic with a 1-0 win at Bristol City.
The Blues needed to win to stay up but were left three points behind Blackburn Rovers who went down instead, although Nottingham Forest and Burton Albion also finished below the Blues.
2018: Blues 3-1 Fulham
Results elsewhere meant the Blues’ 3-1 home win over Fulham under Garry Monk was more than enough.
But Jutkiewicz, captain Harley Dean and Adams got the job done anyway.
Credit : www.bbc.com
