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This article is part of Football FanCast's The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more... 

As highlighted by Football FanCast at the start of the week, Birmingham City’s tactics were preventing them from much success.

Yes, they had won the opening match away at Brentford but the two following games were a draw at St Andrew’s and then a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of their Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest.

It was that defeat which put a spotlight on where it was all going wrong for boss Pep Clotet – he was giving his main man Lukas Jutkiewicz far too much to do in attack. The striker had to drift wide and come deep to try and create his own chances – as we covered here.

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Now, Clotet probably didn’t read the piece but he did make changes in midweek which saw Birmingham see off Barnsley with aplomb, winning 2-0.

The vital change was indeed giving the 30-year-old a strike partner.

On the Chalkboard

The formation was a five-at-the-back with two strikers and three midfielders - and you have to say it paid off considering the two up top both got on the scoresheet.

It allowed two wing-backs to add much-needed width to their attack which allowed Jutkiewicz and his new partner, Alvaro Gimenez, more time in the middle and ultimately more chances were created.

This is supplemented by WhoScored who state in their match report that Birmingham ‘were effective at creating goalscoring opportunities from the flanks.’

Jutkiewicz headed home a Wes Harding cross whilst the 6 foot Spaniard beat Barnsley's defence to delightfully dink an effort over the onrushing goalkeeper.

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Despite having just 36.3% possession, the Blues were victorious and even recorded more shots in the game with 14 compared to Barnsley’s meagre three.

It only went to show that one small tweak to Clotet’s system could breed results and with a tough-looking game against Swansea on Sunday, who themselves sit second in the table with three wins and a draw, the Blues boss must ensure he continues with this formation.

A defensive counter-attacking game could bear fruit against the league’s highest scorers – five-at-the-back should restrict the amount of opportunities they gain, as they managed with Barnsley earlier this week.

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