Nat who has written a few match previews for the season just passed, has come up with his take on the key matches which swung promotion for us.

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I have outlined the eleven key games this season where, in my opinion, we really set ourselves up for an ultimately successful promotion push:

Sheffield United (H) 09/08/2008

A 1-0 win thanks to a last gasp Kevin Phillips goal on a dreary opening day of the season live on Sky. It was tedious, it was gritty, but it was three points, and was to prove to be a prototype for future games.

Bristol City (A) 16/09/2008

A 2-1 win away from home against last season’s Championship play-offs runners-up was a signal of strength and intent from a determined Blues team.

Cardiff City (A) 27/09/2008

To go to an intimidating place like Cardiff and control the game to snatch a 2-1 victory showed that there was a tough belly to Blues thus far unconvincing exterior.

Charlton Athletic (H) 15/11/2008

After a run of picking up one point from a possible nine in their previous three games, Blues started shakily, trailing 2-1 at half-time at a point where Big Eck’s strategy was being called into question. Luckily, fighting spirit prevailed in the form of talismen Franck Queudrue and Kevin Phillips to win 3-2 and stop the rot.

Swansea City (A) 21/11/2008

A very tough Friday night game, Blues were run ragged for 70 minutes by a fitter, faster Swansea. Enter Kevin Phillips, who within two touches of the ball had turned a disappointing defeat into a wonderful win, to give us some real momentum following on from the win six days earlier vs. Charlton.

Derby County (H) 27/01/2009

One League win in our last six had suggested that Blues’ season was going off the rails, and our first-half performance vs. a mediocre Derby was nothing short of dreadful. A Lee Carsley winner to algamate with a better second-half performance lifted the gloom somewhat.

Nottingham Forest (H) 14/02/2009

A 2-0 win and a decent performance to boot, something not readily said when describing displays in recent months. A superb maiden goal from an emerging Irishman also got everyone talking. The name? Keith Fahey, not that we’ve seen much of him since…

Doncaster Rovers (A) 14/03/2009

Another 2-0 win, and this being extra special being our first away win for nearly three months, and our first convincing away win since Winston Churchill was in nappies!

Wolves (H) 05/04/2009

Humiliating any team is special. Humiliating any team with one less man for more than half a match is even more special. Humiliating the Dingles with one less man for more than half a match is too special to be put into words…

Watford (A) 18/04/2009

For all our pressure at Vicarage Road, it seemed as if it would be another ‘so near yet so far’ story for Blues. Enter a heavily deflected Cameron Jerome shot sending an army of Blues fans home delirious knowing the promotion ball was firmly in our court.

Reading (A) 03/05/2009

Do I need to explain?