AITOR STILL FEELING HEAT

...but win raises the spirits of the Blues

- Chris Dunlavy

BELEAGUERED Birmingham City boss Aitor Karanka bought himself some breathing space with a vital victory at Hillsborough.

Reports before kick-off claimed the club’s Chinese owners were considering sacking Karanka after a dire run of one win in 14 matches left Blues in the relegation zone.

And for much a dismal first half, the Spaniard must have feared his eight-month stay at St Andrews was drawing to a close.

But the dismissal of Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Liam Shaw shortly after halftime swung the contest in Birmingham’s favour before Scott Hogan’s sixth goal of the season sealed a desperately needed win that propelled the Blues out of the bottom three.

“It is an important victory,” said Karanka. “But I don’t know. Maybe we lose the next three games and I get sacked. This is football. All I can do is trust these players, and that is something I have done always – not just now because we won the game. I never had any doubt about this group.