So there was a lot at stake and we would have gone behind if it hadn’t been for two superlative saves from Neil Etheridge. All caused by Blues defenders not being tight on the opposition and therefore having to backpedal.

Luckily, we soon brightened up and after a couple of near misses the Juke held up the ball superbly to allow Onel Hernandez to show his class with a cool finish. When a second goal came from scott Hogan after a goalmouth melee, it should have been time for the pipe and slippers routine but this is Blues that we are talking about. For some reason we seemed to go back in our shell and nearly paid the price as Barnsley struck back to reduce the arrears. However, we held on despite a few nervy moments.

At the back, Maxime Colin looked like his old self and whilst the Manchester United loanee Teden Mengi was excellent when tackling and shutting out danger, his distribution was poor. In midfield Gary Gardner was again struggling and Ryan Woods was sometimes brilliant, spraying the ball around but sometimes woeful when caught in possession. Undoubtedly the star turns were the mobile Jordan James and the lightening pace and trickery of Hernandez, both often combining to great effect. It’s a shame and a bit of a paradox that both were the two players taken off but no doubt Lee Bowyer has his reasons. In front of them the Juke was a real handful giving Hogan the room he needs.