Irony surrounds Birmingham City ‘Powerhouse’ Stadium news - Tom Wagner has a lot to think about | OneFootball

Blues' contrast in home and away form has led to plenty of question marks

Despite only being promoted from League One seven months ago, Birmingham City were fancied, by many, to mount a sustained promotion bid this season.

For one reason or another, Blues have firmly seen the spotlight cast on developments at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park in recent times, with the lofty plans put in place by American ownership group, Knighthead Capital Management, in turn, heightening expectation levels when it comes to what Chris Davies' side are able to muster on the pitch.

Like many of their Championship rivals, the first four months of their 150th anniversary campaign have yielded mixed results for the West Midlands side, despite a continued raft of high-profile players and seasoned second tier performers moving to the Second City across the summer.

Last time out, Birmingham succumbed to a dramatic 2-1 defeat at the hands of Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road. It was a result which the vast majority of Bluenoses had very little complaints with over the balance of play, as Kieran Morgan swiftly responded to Patrick Roberts' initial 93rd-minute equaliser in front of the travelling support with a fierce drive which flew past James Beadle and ensured the three points remained in West London.

Prior to the midweek encounter in the capital, Davies had continued to face a barrage of questions regarding the contrasting form which surrounds his side when they are either on home turf or away from St. Andrew's, and it is very much a predicament which many associated with the club are struggling to also put their fingers on.

However, with plans for the upcoming 'Powerhouse' stadium - a 62,000-seater arena as part of the multi-billion pound Sports Quarter regeneration project in East Birmingham now public, the aforementioned set of circumstances do offer a small sense of irony that Tom Wagner will be aware of.

Birmingham City will hope to keep St. Andrew's hostilities at 'Powerhouse' stadium

Image supplied through Grayling

When Wagner and Co. unveiled their new stadium plans to the world at Digbeth Loc Studios on November 20th, major discourse was immediately sparked.

Unsurprisingly, question marks were raised by outsiders and sections of Blues supporters regarding the 'name' as such, with many expecting a high-profile sponsorship deal to accompany 'Powerhouse', given the club's pre-existing relationship with brands such as Nike, Undefeated and Delta Airlines.

It is a name and design - featuring 12 large chimney-themed structures - which pays homage to the industrial heritage of Birmingham, and one on the inside which has been based upon several atmosphere-based facets.

This includes a 360-degree wall of support across the stadium, as well as acoustics which Blues hope will intimidate visiting sides, replicating the feel which St. Andrew's has held throughout history since opening in 1906.

At present, the 119-year-old ground is certainly a 'Powerhouse' for Davies' side too. Only four sides have emerged victorious in B9 since his appointment in June 2024, in the form of Fulham, Newcastle United, Port Vale and Hull City, with the latter representing a solitary home defeat in these parts since April 2024.

Unsurprisingly, such remarkable form has played a key role in Birmingham's current position of 11th in the table, with 20 of their 28 points accumulated coming on home turf.

After being criticised for being rather shot and goal-shy in the season's early weeks, Blues have certainly eradicated such shortcomings in home outings of late, flying out of the traps against Portsmouth, Millwall, Norwich City and Watford, recording four successive wins and scoring 14 goals in that time.

Birmingham City have to address dire away form amid play-off hopes

However, if they are to sustain a position as genuine play-off material, they must improve on the road.

Birmingham have adopted a similar approach and team selection when away from St. Andrew's, which clearly isn't suited at present as, naturally, they are given a far greater degree of respect in home games, such is their largely stellar form.

This was, once again, evident against Julien Stephan's side in midweek, with Demarai Gray largely marked out of the game by Amadou Mbengue, whilst Jay Stansfield and Marvin Ducksch were left to feed off scraps ahead of Kyogo Furuhashi's half-time introduction.

Indeed, Blues have taken just one point from the last 15 available on the road, with a draw at West Bromwich Albion, in a game which they also struggled to control for large parts, sandwiched in-between defeats to Bristol City, Middlesbrough, Southampton and QPR.

But, it must be said that Davies' men have demonstrated a resilience and spirit during their two away wins, coming from behind to defeat Blackburn Rovers on August 16th, whilst keeping a clean sheet as they became the first side to leave Deepdale with three points against Preston North End.