Two blue-clad clubs who have fallen on hard times, two very different atmospheres right now at Rangers and Birmingham City.
While Rangers ruined Barry Ferguson’s Ibrox homecoming with another insipid display – Motherwell emulated Queen’s Park and St Mirren to extend a dismal run of three successive home losses – south of the border, Birmingham City are threatening to create a lead as commanding as Celtic’s at the top of their table.
OK, Chris Davies’ Blues might have some way to go to match his old employers.
Celtic, who employed Davies in an assistant coach’s role before he took the top job at St Andrews, moved 16 points clear of their Old Firm neighbours by beating Hibernian later in the day.
But the gap between Birmingham and their closest challengers in England’s third tier now stands at a still-sizeable eight points. It could rise to eleven, when they finally tick off that game in hand.
The ambitious, American-invested outfit defeated second-place Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 during a tense encounter in England’s second city.
And while the contrast between the moods at Rangers and Birmingham could hardly be any more stark right now, the same can be said of the respective impacts of Kieran Dowell and Alex Lowry since crossing Hadrian’s Wall in pursuit of game time.
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Rangers loanee Kieran Dowell closes in on promotion with Birmingham City
Kieran Dowell ended his 14-month wait for a goal as he maintained his flying start to life under Davies.
Lowry, who joined Wycombe on a permanent basis rather than a temporary short-term deal, was denied the chance to go head-to-head with an old Rangers teammate. He was conspicuous by his absence at the league leaders.
Alex Lowry made a good first impression on the Wycombe Wanderers fans against Preston North End in the FA Cup.
Since then, however, the former Hearts playmaker has featured in a grand total of 19 League One minutes. Lowry was not even included in the travelling party on Saturday.
On the other hand, Dowell’s record as a Birmingham player now starts at seven appearances, six wins and one draw.
The one-time Everton and Norwich City man started in a wider, right-sided role against promotion-seeking Wycombe. And while there would be no repeat of Dowell’s fine goal against Cambridge United in February – despite mustering four shots across the 90 minutes – there is a reason why the Rangers loanee has strolled straight into the starting XI of a club who have stepped on the accelerator following his arrival.
Birmingham fans laud Dowell in big Wycombe Wanderers win
“Dowell has been good,” one Birmingham supporter sums up on X.
“Dowell has been such a nice addition to this team,” a Blues fan agrees. “Slotted in seamlessly.”
“Technical wise, Dowell is much better,” another argues, putting the January addition above £3 million marquee summer signing Willum Thor Willumsson.
“Dowell is so calm on the ball,” one fan adds.
He might not be the most dynamic or obviously eye-catching member of Davies’ expensively-assembled [by League One standards’] squad. But in a division where Birmingham average comfortably the highest possession numbers, Dowell brings a handy sense of composure.
