Ex-EFL player Morrison backs Birmingham City for promotion push

Sean Morrison says Birmingham City are genuine promotion contenders as they sit fourth in the Championship after 11 games.

Birmingham City are being talked about as genuine promotion contenders after a powerful start to the Championship season. Former Cardiff City and Reading defender Sean Morrison has backed the Blues to maintain their challenge, pointing to their recent form and league position.

Morrison, speaking on the EFL All Access Podcast, said the team needs to keep its momentum going until the new year and strengthen in certain areas. He highlighted that Birmingham have looked excellent over the last six or seven games, a view supported by the league table where they currently sit fourth with 20 points from 11 matches.

The club's recent form reads four wins and a draw from the last five, a sequence that includes convincing victories over Queens Park Rangers and Preston North End. Their attack has been potent, scoring 20 league goals, but Morrison's former side, Cardiff City, will be the next test this Saturday as Birmingham look to build on their position in the standings.

Liam Millar's key role

A major factor in the surge has been the impact of forward Liam Millar. The Canada international, who joined after helping Hull City win promotion in May, has scored four goals and provided three assists in seven appearances. He netted twice in the recent 3-0 win against QPR, with Demarai Gray adding a late third.

Millar's pace and direct running have been central to an attack that has scored 20 league goals, the fourth-highest total in the division. His understanding with fellow attackers like Gray and Jay Stansfield gives Birmingham a potent threat on the counter. The team's goal difference of plus nine has been built on this attacking output combined with defensive solidity.

Building a platform

Defensively, the partnership of Christoph Klarer and Phil Neumann has provided a solid base, while goalkeeper James Beadle has impressed since returning on loan from Brighton. The team has conceded only 11 goals, contributing to the healthy goal difference.

They are just three points behind leaders Swansea City, with the automatic promotion places firmly in sight. Key absentees like midfielder Paik Seung-Ho and defender M. Leonard, currently on the injuries list, will hope to return soon to bolster the squad depth Morrison referenced as an area for potential strengthening.

Birmingham City now turn their full attention to an away trip to face Cardiff City this Saturday in the Championship. A positive result in Wales would further cement their status as a team to watch in the promotion race and could see them close the gap at the top ahead of the next round of fixtures.