Birmingham City: Chris Davies says busy January maintains expectation levels

Birmingham City boss Chris Davies says the club’s busy transfer window last month does not change the high level of expectation at St Andrew’s this season.

Blues brought in six new players in January and also turned Patrick Roberts’ loan move from Sunderland into a permanent deal on deadline day.

The mini-rebuild has coincided with an improved run of form that has seen Birmingham take 11 points from the last possible 15.

“The expectation, for me, has been there constantly and regardless of what happened this January, I don’t think I would’ve felt any different and I still don’t,” Davies told BBC Radio WM.

“We’re hungry for success and we want to push and make progress.

“We’ve made progress in the last month and we’ve got a good week coming up at home [against Leicester City, West Bromwich Albion and in the FA Cup against Leeds United] and we just have to go for every game and enjoy it.”

Among Blues’ January captures was left-sided defender Jonathan Panzo, who arrived on deadline day until the end of the season from Portuguese side Rio Ave.

“He covers us really well and can earn his place in the team now – that’s what I’ve said to him,” Davies said. “We’ll go from there and he was up for the challenge.”

On Roberts, Davies said keeping the winger at the club was very much on his radar.

“There would have been a lot of teams at this level that would be very keen on Patrick if we didn’t do it,” he added.

“He’s made an impact since he arrived and has been one of our best signings this season and will be a big one in these next few months.”