Fifteen games unbeaten, in the top 8 of the Premier League and into the 5th round of the most famous Cup competition in the world. The future looks bright for the Blues but this month is all about the green and the transfer funds burning a hole in the pocket of Blues manager Alex McLeish.

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has revealed Birmingham City have had a transfer bid rejected for midfielder Craig Gardner.

Blues are believed to have offered around £3 million for the England Under-21 International and are expected to return with an improved offer.

O'Neill said: "Birmingham have made an inquiry and they have also made a bid. The bid as it stands hasn't been accepted.

Twenty games into the season, and Blues sit in the lofty position of 8th place in the league. Our rise has been dreamlike; there is always one promoted club which threatens to make an impact when promoted, and this time, it's Blues' time to shine.
It is that time where fans reflect on how the season has started for their club, and Bluenoses are no different. It has been a season of two halves for the club, with some oustanding performances along the way. Here are my awards for the season to date...

It's been a whirlwind month for the club. The club owners have enjoyed their honeymoon period with the team enjoying considerable success on the field; five games unbeaten and the best run that the club has enjoyed in the Premier League.

A controversial penalty gave Liverpool a share of the spoils, but two consecutive 1-0 victories have sent spirits soaring around St Andrews. The defence looks solid, the midfield industrious and the strikers menacing.

The arrival of the new Birmingham City board has sent shockwaves...through the club, through the fanbase, through the Premier League, and poignantly, through the team.
Two fantastic home performances against quality opposition have given new belief to a side in need of insipration.
The visit of Manchester City brought with it a frustrating night where the ball just wouldn't drop for the forwards, but first came the visit of Sunderland and a trio of men who were extremely familiar to the Blues faithful.

The International break has come and gone, but the problems that have haunted Alex McLeish's Birmingham side refuse to go away. Three games without a win, and the defence that was hailed as supremely solid has started to look shaky. Off the pitch, the takeover by Carson Yeung has been completed, with a few surprises along the way.

It has been another week of upheaval at St Andrews, and it begs the question, will the arrival of the new owners finally bring the stability that we have called out for?

Another couple of games down the line, and Blues have yet to improve their points tally in the Premier League table. Bolton and Burnley, the two Bs, have brought out C/D grade performances from a side who need to do better if they are to survive.

Just when the fans seemed to be turning on their manager, the Chinese have arrived on their white horses, with mystery, fantasy, and scepticism continuing to reign over St Andrews. The club has changed hands, but where do we go from here?

As you may have noticed, it's been a while since the last entry. A derby day defeat can knock the stuffing out of you at the best times, but in the 87th minute? Heartbreaking.
A week of taunts, countless debates fighting your corner and regrets followed, before a real six-pointer. If the Second City Derby was all about pride, the trip to Hull was all about the points. Three magic points that would do its fair share to raise morale levels in the Blue half of the city. We went, we saw, we conquered.

100,99,98...54,53,52...22,21,20...7,6,5...

The countdown to the Second City Derby has ran since the day that the fixture list was released, and the waiting is almost over.
Ahead of the big game, I thought I'd share some of my views on the game before the big day, because you never know, after Sunday, I may never want to talk to anyone. Ever.

The rollercoaster ride that is the Premier League continued with a heartbreaking last minute 2-1 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur, and was closely followed by an uneventful deadline day for Birmingham City.