Friday 21 November 2014 12:52, UK
Rotherham boss Steve Evans concedes that Birmingham are a different proposition these days.
Blues are unbeaten in three games since the appointment of Gary Rowett, drawing with Wolves and Cardiff and beating Watford at home.
That run follows the undoubted low of an 8-0 home defeat to Bournemouth, which came while they were managerless following Lee Clark's sacking.
The midlands side, who currently reside in the bottom three of the Championship, visit New York Stadium for the first time on Saturday, knowing that a victory would take them above Rotherham in the table.
And Evans expects to face a side still boosted by the arrival of a new manager.
"They went to Molineux and got a 0-0 and then played Watford at home and beat them," he said. "Watford are one of the best teams I've seen in this division and they beat them doing handstands.
There was never any doubt that Lee Clark had assembled a very talented squad of players but, for whatever reason, they were losing football matches.
"Gary's (Rowett) gone in. There was never any doubt that Lee Clark had assembled a very talented squad of players but, for whatever reason, they were losing football matches.
"Gary's gone in there with his staff and - like any new manager - they go in and for five or six games they seem to get more than the average.
"After six games or whatever it is, it goes back to where it was normally.
"That's what you normally see. Gary is a young man who everyone recognised had done a good job at Burton."
The Millers' match with Blues is followed seven days later by a clash with Blackpool.
Evans' men are without a win in five games and have been pulled back towards the relegation zone after previously sitting comfortably in mid-table.
And Evans knows the importance of the game.
"It's vital," he added. "It's all very tight and when it's as tight as that, quite genuinely, two or three wins and you're suddenly in the top ten or 12.
"They are bringing 2,500 fans so it will be a great atmosphere. Let's just hope at 5pm that we have the three points on the board."
