The Blues ended their season as they began it with a loss away from St Andrews. However, despite the final day defeat by Bolton Wanderers, Birmingham City completed the 2009/10 with a top ten finish in the Premier League.

 

Alex McLeish will possibly see the campaign as a missed opportunity. The long unbeaten run that lasted from mid-October until the 3-0 reverse at Stamford Bridge and included good results against Chelsea and Manchester United at home and also at Anfield was still not enough to drive his team into a Europa League qualifying spot. The change of ownership at St Andrews will have boosted confidence but did not immediately inspire greater things on the pitch. Closed season transfer funds will no doubt be made available to McLeish, providing he is still in charge to spend them. Recent press reports have linked the Scot with a potential vacancy at Anfield should Rafa Benitez part company with Liverpool either through his own volition or by a decision outside his control.

The cups provided mixed fortunes for the St Andrews faithful as an early Carling Cup exit at Sunderland was forgotten as the squad knocked out Everton and Derby following a stumble against Nottingham Forest in round 3 only to fall to eventual finalists Portsmouth at the quarter final stage.

Ultimately, it was a lack of goals that put paid to any hopes Birmingham City had of challenging for a European spot next season. Cameron Jerome finished top scorer but as the only player to break double figures with his ten Premier League strikes – twice as many as his nearest challenger – it is clear why only Wigan Athletic Wolverhampton Wanderers scored less in front of their own fans.

The end of season report for Birmingham may read as ‘can do better’.