‘I Think They’ve Shifted’ – Birmingham City Claim Made By Ex-Striker | OneFootball

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Former Championship striker Sam Parkin has seen signs of greater fight in Birmingham City, noting that Blues look different from the side Chris Davies built in League One and managed last season.

Birmingham are now into their second Championship campaign since winning the League One title in 2024/25 in huge style.

Davies guided Blues to a tenth-place finish last season, falling short of the playoff spots after losing momentum late on, but retained backing to continue at the helm.

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This term, Birmingham have made a steady start to life in the Championship, sitting tenth after eight games with two wins and just one defeat.

At the weekend, they welcomed Middlesbrough to St Andrew’s and battled to a hard-fought 2-2 draw against a side that, like them, have tasted defeat just once.

Parkin highlighted the clear shift in Birmingham’s approach, with Blues now showing greater fight and a willingness to play more directly under Davies.

He noted that Birmingham have moved away from the style that helped them win promotion, with the team now more comfortable going longer when required.

The 45-year-old also pointed to the presence of August Priske and Luis Vazquez, who give Blues a physical edge up front and are willing to hold the ball up and compete.

Parkin said on the Championship Check-in Show (29:27): “There’s a real fight about Birmingham, all of a sudden.

“There’s definitely been a shift in style.

“I think that’s probably been well documented.

“This is not the Birmingham team that Chris Davies built in League One and took into the Championship and tried to play a similar ilk of style.

“I think they’ve shifted, they’re not averse to going a little bit longer.

“Helps probably if you’ve got a centre forward in Priske and Vazquez at the weekend, all willing to hold the ball up, willing to fight.”

Parkin has previously praised Priske, noting that the forward has looked improved since returning from the summer break.

Birmingham now have a break before returning to action on 10th October, when they travel to the Hawthorns to face West Brom, whose manager James Morrison has been described as an intelligent boss by a former Baggies manager.

The St Andrew’s outfit will be looking to capitalise on West Brom’s recent defeat and return from the Hawthorns with all three points.