Hope is slipping away after Hornets stinger

BIRMINGHAM

- By ALEX DICKEN

Blues have taken just eight points from 13 away games - compared with 23 points from their 12 home fixtures

City’s promotion hopes are evaporating after a 3-0 thumping at Watford on New Year's Day.With nine points between 17th-placed Blues and the top-six after a seventh game without a victory, it would take some turnaround from here to get into the playoffs.

A hat-trick from Tom Ince condemned Blues to another away defeat and plenty is riding on tomorrow’s meeting with league leaders Coventry City at St Andrew's.

Here are our talking points following Blues’ defeat to Watford...

Thirteen games, nine defeats, 23 goals conceded and only eight points - Blues’ away record is no longer a cause for concern, it’s embarrassing.

It has become abundantly clear in Blues’ away games this season that they are a soft touch all over the park.

There hasn’t been any strength in the face of adversity, when Blues have gone down - and they have conceded first in 12 of their 13 away games - they have wilted.