The whole day affair had something of an end of season feel, with Blues determined to bow out at St Andrews with a win and Burnley able to throw the shackles off following relegation and discover that, even then, they're still rubbish.
Alex McLeish brought Stuart Parnaby in for the suspended Stephen Carr, whilst Gregory Vignal continued at left-back with Liam Ridgewell moved inside to deputise for the injured Scott Dann. In front of the back four, there was a return to the forward six of The Unbeatables, with Seb Larsson on the right, James McFadden on the left, Barry Ferguson and Lee Bowyer in the middle, and Cameron Jerome and (finally) Christian Benitez up front. A quick look at the Burnley line-up suggested that they had picked a reserve side as their season was over, but it was actually their first team.
Blues dominated the first half, and it was fairly obvious straight away what they had missed whilst Benitez is out of the side. He and Jerome were almost instantly linking up with one another as they had done so well earlier in the season, and the two-pronged nature of the threat meant that suddenly the opposition defence was stretched, which in turn created room for those behind such as Bowyer who missed with a header when he should have scored.
More recently McFadden has been playing up front with Jerome, and Blues completely lose the directness of their forwards when that happens. McFadden, for all his qualities, is not what you'd call a direct striker. He doesn't play on the last man and doesn't get defenders back-pedalling towards their own goal, opening up space. He's good on the ball and, as we've seen, can be effective from the left or in a deeper, free role, but when up front, you're only really left with Jerome as the direct forward. Stop him and the opposition know that the rest of Blues' play will be much deeper. When you throw Benitez in with Jerome, suddenly you have both running at you and looking to run past you. Defenders have twice the threat to deal with, ten or fifteen yards further up the pitch, meaning that they're occupied and stretched. Suddenly the game opens up and Bowyer, Ferguson, McFadden and Larsson are brought into play. It was pretty much the key component of what Blues did so well for three months not so long ago, which makes it all the more baffling as to why it was removed.
With more space to play in, Blues took control, creating a number of good opportunities. The only thing that was missing was a goal, but that did eventually come. Larsson retrieved an overhit cross, span and crossed first time and in a scene reminiscent of Sunday League football, someone (either Cameron Jerome or Tyrone Mear) knocked the ball in between Brian Jensen's legs from about a yard away, and the big Dane sort of backheeled the ball over the line. It's just a pity that the goal of the season contenders have already been announced.
Just before half-time it was 2-0, thanks to Benitez's first goal at St Andrews in what may be his last game on the ground. From a generously-awarded free-kick, McFadden crossed to the far post where Roger Johnson headed back across goal for Benitez to chest in from about a foot out. Blues had scored two goals from a combined distance of about 73 centimetres, but they all count. Interestingly Johnson appeared to throw a little strop for some reason - his header wasn't going in. It was a strange performance all round from Johnson who did look like his mind was elsewhere, particularly during the first half. Perhaps his part in the furore surrounding last week's game has played on his mind.
It was noticeable that all of Benitez's teammates made an effort to congratulate him on his goal, once he'd got up from appearing to cry on the ground.
Blues started the second half in much the same manner, with Burnley generally poor, except for Steven Fletcher who played well up front on his own. Blues have been linked with him and he wouldn't be a bad signing, provided that he was one of a few striking options and not the headline signing himself. He holds the ball up well, is fit and strong, strikes a ball well and has shown this season that he can finish too. He's too good for Burnley. Then again, a lot of things are too good for Burnley, such as modernisation, hygiene, and electricity, so that's not saying much. After relegation, there may only be Graham Alexander and racism left in Burnley.
As Blues continued to press early on in the second half, Benitez found himself through on goal and bizarrely turned back, away from goal and ended up losing the ball. In that one moment, after his first half display, you probably saw the complete picture as to why there's such a debate that surrounds him. I'm a fan of his, but it'd be wrong of me to argue that he's had a good season in front of goal - he hasn't. Strangely, of his four goals this season, he's actually only scored one with his feet when in front of goal, and even that, at Wigan, he hit the 'keeper with. His other goals have been two headers at Anfield and Goodison Park and his chested effort here - all instinctive. His actual finishing when presented with a decent opportunity and a bit of time (and he's had a few) has been poor. You can't argue with that.
However, there's also no argument about the fact that Blues are better when he's in the team.
Benitez has started 21 games. Blues have won 11 of those, drawn 7 and lost 3, taking 40 points in the process. That's 1.91 points per game, which, over the course of the season, would get you 72 points. That would have secured a Champions League place this season, and is the same number of points as Arsenal currently have.
Benitez hasn't started in 16 games. Blues have won 2 of those, drawn 4 and lost 10, taking 10 points in the process. That's 0.625 points per game, which, over the course of the season, would get you 23 points. That's not many. To emphasise just how bad that is, it's even worse than Burnley. Quite a lot worse.
Now, of course I am not for one second suggesting that had Benitez started every game, Blues would be gearing up for the Champions League or that, had Blues not signed him, they'd currently be below Portsmouth. However, the stats are fairly conclusive, I'd suggest. Forty points from 21 games he's started. Two wins in the sixteen games he hasn't started. That's fairly telling.
If you ignore the Villa game, Blues created more chances against Burnley than they probably had in their previous four games combined. Yes, yes, it's only Burnley, but they still created plenty. As rubbish as Benitez is in front of goal at present, he still makes a massive difference. He still makes things happen. He still adds far more to Blues' offensively than simply his goals (or lack thereof). Is £8m too much for him? Possibly, but look at the stats above. Is £8m too much for a player who has that sort of impact? Maybe not.
The final points that I'll make on the subject are those that have been made before and one that possibly hasn't.
Firstly, he's young, he's never played in Europe before, let alone England, and after his "minder" Giovanny Espinoza was released, he would (you'd imagine) have been a bit on his own. It cannot have been easy for him. Yet despite all of that, I still maintain he's had a cracking season. How many players with such little experience come over from South America and make such an impact immediately? Not many. Not many at all. He's made a huge impact, pretty much other than scoring goals. Yes, yes, that's important for a striker, but look at what else he has brought, and in his first season outside of his home continent. He's been impressive.
And finally, yes, the goals haven't come, but there are signs that they will. He gets into the positions. You can't dispute that. He hasn't made the most of those positions, but he's got into them which is half the battle. Also, go back to what I said above and look at the Liverpool, Everton and Burnley goals he's got - they were all instinctive. He's got that instinct. He can do it. I just hope and pray that it's Blues who see him doing it and that we don't play the part of giving such a talented player a great season of experience and grounding in the English or European game only for him to prosper elsewhere.
Anyway, back to the game and Blues began to showboat, trying to be clever too many times and as a result Burnley got back into it. It was probably a surprise that they didn't score earlier than they did, when Steven Thomson took advantage of Vignal holding a defensive line fifteen yards deeper than the other three defenders. Thomson, who was greeted with the comment "he's so rubbish" by yours truly when he came on for Fletcher, finished well.
It was too late for Burnley though and Blues held on. Two final mentions, firstly for Barry Ferguson who was superb, and secondly for Michel who came on for twenty minutes or so and looked good. McLeish had recently said that Michel needed to get to grips with the English game, and it doesn't get more English than Burnley, as the BNP will tell you. Michel was composed on the ball, good off it and won plenty of tackles and made decent interceptions. After (at times) looking lost in the trip to Sunderland, it did look like he was settling in to the style and pace of the game, and he could well be an asset next season.
All that was left for Blues was to enjoy their "lap of appreciation". It was great that so many fans stopped behind to show their appreciation for what has been a stunning effort by all those involved. I can't remember so many fans stopping behind for so long after the end of such a game - perhaps generally as Blues have either been relegated or lost the match in question. Had someone offered me 14th at the start of the season, I'd have snapped their hand off and rejoiced in a fine season. It looks like Blues will finish 9th which is beyond all expectations, conservative, wild or otherwise. It's been a brilliant campaign, and to remain unbeaten at home for about eight months just adds to that.
Here's hoping for one last effort at Bolton next week, before the players go off on their well deserved break.