Gary Rowett believes Birmingham City will have a ‘very good chance’ of survival if they manage to beat Norwich City today.
Blues have to beat the Canaries and bank on one of their relegation rivals slipping up. Plymouth host Hull City, while Sheffield Wednesday travel to Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers are away to Leicester City.
If Blues win, anything other than a win for Plymouth would see the Pilgrims relegated. Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn are only in danger if they lose their final day matches.
“If we win and other teams win, good on them, because they have done their job, just like we will have done. At that point, what will be will be,” says Rowett.
READ: Seven decisions have Blues on the brink - Knighthead must learn lessons
READ: Blues Plan B is ‘banging on the door’ to give Rowett Norwich headache
“But my belief is that if we win the game, there’s a very good chance that keeps us in the division. That’s all we can focus on and control.”
Rowett was parachuted in for an eight-game stint to save Blues from relegation in mid-March. While he has sorted out Blues’ defence, Rowett hasn’t been able to accumulate as many points as he would have liked.
The draws with Rotherham and Huddersfield have left Blues needing a final day snooker. Whatever the outcome, Rowett will take some accountability.
He said: “I knew the scenario when I came in, I had a choice. I’ve said it before, the easiest and most sensible decision in any manager’s career would be not to take the risk on a short-term deal where there isn’t really a financial motivation or a career motivation. But sometimes you have to think outside yourself and that’s difficult in football sometimes.
“And it was genuinely, can I come back and help the club? I’d had so many good times here, I felt like I was a good fit for what was required and I still do. And that was it. I can honestly stand here and say, the staff that have come in with me, at this point we have done everything we can to try and achieve safety in this division.
“I’m still glad I’m in this position. I would love for that to be a positive ending on Saturday but unfortunately in football you can’t guarantee that.
“It would be very easy in my situation to try and deflect accountability but I will always feel accountable. If we’ve had eight games and haven’t had enough points, then I will feel that’s my responsibility. I think that’s the right thing to do.”
