Former Birmingham City boss Gary Rowett has backed his old side to beat the drop despite being handed a nine-point deduction on Friday, report BBC Radio 5Live.

The punishment comes as a result of the club breaking Financial Fair Play rules between 2015 and 2018 and will see them enter the relegation scrap at the foot of the table.

“The difficulty is the psychological blow of having a good season and then suddenly dropping those points,” he said

“But I think they will probably navigate it.”

Currently sat in 13th place, when the points are taken off Garry Monk will see his side tumble down into 18th, just five points above the drop zone.

The Blues have lost their previous four matches in the Championship heading into the international break and face a tough test over the next month.

West Bromwich Albion, Leeds United and Sheffield United make up the club’s next three opponents as they look to avoid slipping into League One.

The verdict

I think Rowett is right here.

It certainly adds another element to the final weeks of the season but the chances of Rotherham making up five points on them as well as Reading making up four seems very unlikely.

Stranger things have happened, but I think they will be ok.