Chris Davies has issued a straightforward caution to his Birmingham City squad: the fact that their next two home games are against Preston North End and Queens Park Rangers means precisely nothing if they do not work for the points.

Blues head into Tuesday's fixture at St Andrew's on the back of their third away win of the Championship season, a 1-0 derby victory at West Brom that Davies described in press-conference terms as a boost. But he was careful not to let that momentum curdle into assumption.

"The expectation can go up," Davies told BBC Radio WM. "And I've said to the players that just because we now have two home games against Preston and QPR doesn't mean anything. We've got to earn it if we're going to get something. We're really pleased with how we've been playing away. This is just the next game. And we've got to keep building."

A home record that needs fixing

The numbers at St Andrew's tell their own story. Birmingham have drawn all four of their Championship home matches so far this season, three of them finishing 2-2, against Bristol City, Southampton, Wolves and Middlesbrough. More points have been gathered on the road than in front of their own supporters, which is an unusual position for a side with genuine ambitions in this division.

Preston arrive as the bottom club in the table and under new management: Graham Alexander, a former North End player with a strong reputation in the lower reaches of the Football League pyramid, took charge at the weekend and immediately suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Millwall in his first game. His side's league position and that difficult start might tempt some squads into expecting a comfortable evening. Davies is plainly keen to stamp that out before it takes hold.

Squad depth becoming an asset

One area where Davies is allowing himself a degree of quiet satisfaction is the growing depth of his options. Players including Demarai Gray, Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Max Bird all came off the bench in the derby win at The Hawthorns, with each contributing to the result. That kind of impact from substitutes is the mark of a squad that is building cohesion at the right point of the season.

"We're coming together at the right time," Davies said. "In a three-game week, you always need options, and that when they do come on, they can make an impact. We need a core group of players and some of them are coming back to fitness just at the right time. Keeping them engaged and hungry and feeling part of it when they're not starting is always a challenge for any manager."

That last line is the sort of thing managers say in press releases, but there is a practical truth behind it. A busy midweek-to-Saturday schedule against two sides fighting their own battles at the wrong end of the table is precisely when tired legs and a flat training week can cost a team points they fully expected to collect.

Alexander adds an extra dimension

The visit of Alexander to St Andrew's carries its own subplot. He is widely regarded as one of the more capable managers outside the top flight, and the source notes that his last appearance at the ground came in the EFL Trophy semi-final in February 2025, when his Bradford City side gave Birmingham a scare. He will be under pressure at Preston, which historically tends to sharpen a side's defensive resolve rather than blunt it.

With QPR following on Saturday, Davies is essentially framing this week as a defining stretch in Birmingham's home season. The draw record is not a crisis, but it is a pattern, and patterns have a habit of lingering in league tables long after the games that created them are forgotten.

Frequently asked

Why have Birmingham City drawn so many home games this season?
Birmingham have drawn all four of their Championship home matches so far, three of them 2-2. Chris Davies has acknowledged the pattern and is pushing his players to convert those draws into wins, starting with the Preston North End fixture.
Who is Preston North End's new manager?
Graham Alexander, a former Preston player and experienced Football League manager, took charge of Preston ahead of their weekend match against Millwall. He lost that first game 1-0 before visiting St Andrew's.
How have Birmingham City performed away from home this season?
Birmingham have picked up three away wins in the Championship this season, including a 1-0 derby victory at West Brom. Their away form has been notably stronger than their home record.