Nine points off the play-offs - that's where Birmingham City sit in the race for the Premier League.

In anyone's estimations, Gary Rowett's side have overachieved this season. The former Burton man came into the club midway through 2014/15, taking over from Lee Clark, who had left the club in a perilous situation. He departed with the Midlanders 23rd in the league as ownership issues occupied the front pages of local newspapers day-after-day. Supporters were frustrated, upset and angry at what had happened at their precious club, all whilst they watched bitter rivals Aston Villa compete in the Premier League and reach the FA Cup Final.

The Blues were seemingly being run from Hong Kong, with owner Carson Yeung in a prison cell for money laundering offences. But in came Panos Pavlakis, who has done a great job of tightening the budget, and whilst the problems haven't completely been wiped out, they have been papered over - and that will do for now.

Yet fast forward a year and a bit and Rowett has completely revolutionised matters at St Andrew's. In one season alone he has transformed Birmingham from relegation favourites into play-off dreamers. Until a couple of months ago, the club were well in the race having flirted with the top six for the entire season - impressive when you look at some of the teams around them.

They've dropped off in the last month or so, but they're still in with an outside chance following an impressive 2-0 away victory at Reading last week - albeit a loss at Leeds in their game in hand has since followed. In March they were only one point outside the play-offs but now they sit nine behind the front-runners with five games remaining.

Who knows, if Birmingham win their remaining six games could they still be in with a chance of making the play-offs? Of course they could, but that's easier said than done in a division where anything is possible. People don't claim the Championship to be one of the toughest in the world without reason. The number of former Premier League sides in the division is higher than ever and it really is a dogfight to get out.

Look at the top six: Burnley, Middlesbrough, Brighton, Hull, Derby and Sheffield Wednesday - all sides with Premier League pedigree - aside from the Seagulls, perhaps. It was always going to be a big ask for Birmingham City, but the fact they're even up there is testament to the work Rowett has completed since taking over at the club.

So can they do it? Winning their last six games is essential, but it won't be easy. Games against Burnley, Preston and Middlesbrough are all still to come and these are all sides that are having strong seasons themselves.

Finishing the campaign strongly is vital at any level and not letting the season simply fizzle out into a rather uninspiring midtable finish is huge, even if the success wasn't expected at the beginning.

Keep right on.

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