In the words of that deep mystical theorist Michael Winner, ‘Calm down dear, calm down'.
I reckon that just about everyone saw the defeat by Southend looming in the distance like Richard Hammond's front tyre. The blank period without action, the previous spectacular FA Cup win against the Toon and the earlier loss to Ipswich meant only one result was possible. This is Birmingham City FC, founded in 1875 and searching for new ways ever since to lure in the eternal pessimists and then give them enough rope to hang themselves.
The Blues always find magical new ways to bring on the disappointment. Recently we even had empty Saturdays due to our bog being out of order and Paris Hilton blowing around the Walker Stadium. Wish I'd been there for that one.
It's never nice to lose. It's even more biting when it is at home. It's nigh on catastrophic when it's against bottom of the table. The statistics will always show a few home defeats each season and taken in conjunction with the wins we have had on our travels, the majority of which were unexpected, we cannot complain too much.
Put the knives away and remove your shoe laces. This is how it is, and how it will always be. There is nothing to be gained by an autopsy unless of course it provokes a reaction akin to the last home league defeat against Norwich.
That long unbeaten run seems like it happened a year ago. Maybe that's because it did. It would be wrong to read a collapse from one result however this is Birmingham City, the eternal breaker of hearts. We have somehow managed to force ourselves into a wonderful position and the strength of the squad should be enough to provide sufficient competition for places so that the players do not get as complacent as they did against Southend.
I will only be brief this week as it has been a long few days following a funeral, a house alarm that chooses to serenade the neighbours all through the night and me wanting to save you lot from reading anything too depressing given your current mental state.
A nice away win at Colchester and all will be rosy in the St Andrews garden. Be strong my friends. There is a long way to go yet.
Keep right on. I'll do better next week. Promise.
Bergen weather update: New record in Norway for the most rain to fall in a three month period, between 1.11.06 and 31.1.07 they had 1397mm of rain. Exciting eh?