AITOR STILL FEELING HEAT

...but win raises the spirits of the Blues

- Chris Dunlavy

BELEAGUERED Birmingham City boss Aitor Karanka bought himself some breathing space with a vital victory at Hillsborough.

Reports before kick-off claimed the club’s Chinese owners were considering sacking Karanka after a dire run of one win in 14 matches left Blues in the relegation zone.

And for much a dismal first half, the Spaniard must have feared his eight-month stay at St Andrews was drawing to a close.

But the dismissal of Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Liam Shaw shortly after halftime swung the contest in Birmingham’s favour before Scott Hogan’s sixth goal of the season sealed a desperately needed win that propelled the Blues out of the bottom three.

“It is an important victory,” said Karanka. “But I don’t know. Maybe we lose the next three games and I get sacked. This is football. All I can do is trust these players, and that is something I have done always – not just now because we won the game. I never had any doubt about this group.

“I say to anyone, if you come to our training ground every day, it is as if we are playing in midtable. The atmosphere is very good. The togetherness is very good. It is just about getting the points we deserve and we did.”