Blues predictably made a number of changes with Morrison, Tora, Donaldson, Grounds and Gray amongst those rested, which meant that the stature of the starting eleven would have done justice to a Lilliputian XI playing in the Gulliver’s Travels Cup.

Typically,the first twenty minutes was more than a trifle uncomfortable as the Blues players were getting used to each other and Gillingham were giving it the Big ‘Un. Luckily, in that period, the Dutch midfield master Mikel kept a steady ship whilst Shinnie’s class was much in evidence. If only he had been born with a normal set of cojones, he could easily be playing Premier League football.

Blues took the lead, probably a bit undeservedly, when the old warhorse Robbo showed everybody else how to head a ball and the willing Wes Thomas was on hand to bundle the ball home.

The second half saw Blues in the ascendancy and it was no real surprise when they went two-nil up following good work from Mikel and Davies for Wes T to nip in and coolly slot home. Gillingham huffed and puffed to no avail and this meant that Blues were able to bring on the young bloods – the home grown Soloman and Reece Brown and the marquee Danish signing (although given the current level of transfer fees in the Championship, it was more of a bivouac than a marquee).

Certainly both have pace to burn with Soloman looking every inch a Redmond-type prospect and, dare I say it, looking even better at this stage. Danish Nicolai showed some great touches and put the equally tall Mr Zigic in perspective showing pace, hunger and heading ability as befits somebody of his height. A word also for man of the match Mikel in midfield and a confident performance between the sticks by our goalkeeper for the night Adam Legzdins