We should be thinking well of Gillingham today. Not only because they beat Leeds yesterday, which all right-thinking people should take pleasure in. No – it’s because their ongoing inability to win away from home this season means City are not alone in consistently failing to emerge victorious on the road. Small comfort, I know.

This game was a vast improvement on the pitiful offering last week, of course. There was relatively little in the way of creativity, but at least a respectable amount of effort was served up. Unfortunately this may not be enough. At 5pm yesterday this seemed a minor disappointment but at least a useful point gained. At the time of writing, Arsenal have handed three points over to Wigan, and the situation looks bleak.

On with the match first, then its repercussions. Iain Dowie made three changes from last week’s wholly unacceptable offering: in came Messrs Duke, Cairney and Vennegoor of Hesselink. Myhill’s confidence has taken a bit of a battering lately, though he remains our best keeper. A debateable call. Cairney playing is generally a good idea. Altidore not playing is not a good idea. Dowie may not have the strongest hand to play, but he could have done better than this.

So, 4-5-1 on a warm afternoon in the Midlands at a remarkably soporific St Andrews – we barely heard a whimper from the home fans all day, though perhaps understandably as they’ve already exceeded expectations and achieved all they need to this season. There was a decent Tiger turnout in good voice, aided by some all-standing fun. I always like it when that happens.

The first chance of the afternoon fell to Birmingham, attacking the end behind which we were stood. A corner was only part-cleared and McFadden directed a very good shot just over Matt Duke’s crossbar. At the other end, it was a familiar story of moderately attractive build-up play being wasted by the lack of a killer ball or a real finisher in the side. Chances were few and far between in a game that didn’t want for effort or attacking intent, but the execution was uniformly mediocre.

As the half wore on, Bullard had a long shot easily caught by Hart, Fahey had an effort deflected wide and Bowyer headed narrowly over – a flurry of activity suddenly livening up the afternoon, and it was the pantomime villain former White Shite who came closest to opening the scoring shortly after with a crisp drive that Duke did well to parry to safety.

Shortly before the interval City put together the best move of the game when Dawson found space on the left, sent over a superb cross that Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink headed goalwards – it’d have beaten many keepers, but Joe Hart is a fine shotstopper and he managed to thrust out a palm to deny the Dutchman. Goalless at the interval, and warm applause and encouragement from an away end encouraged by the opening half and, after last week’s disgrace, once again with the side.

Boateng lashed an ambitious volley after a corner was cleared early in the second half, which turned out to be one of very few chances between 45 and 75 minutes. City had slightly the better of the game, certainly in terms of possession, but Birmingham were not for repeating their traumatically porous display last week and openings were hard to come by.

Hoping to change things, Altidore was introduced on 76 to cries of “USA! USA USA!” – sadly it was for Vennegoor of Hesselink, as the rigid formation was dismayingly retained. Bullard had shown significantly more desire than he had last week, seeking to influence play in the final third, and he linked up nicely with Jozy, but his shot from distance was mishit and no problem for Hart.

Still the Tigers came, by now the only side looking likely-ish to score. Cairney flashed a shot over and in injury time Fagan crashed a thudding volley goalwards…for a split-second it looked as though the Tigers were going to steal a late winner a la Manucho at Fulham about eight thousand years ago, but it arced narrowly wide and a point was collected to sincere applause at the end.

A point that now looks less than adequate. We make no apology for applying hindsight here. Wigan are now seven points clear, and surely won’t be caught. West Ham are three ahead with a greatly superior goal difference. The Tigers now have four games, and probably require six points to stand any chance, though probably more. Granted, this was an improved performance and the team do deserve some credit for a vast increase in industry and application, but once again a winnable game has not been won. And we’re nearly out of time now.