Birmingham City fans are growing increasingly concerned as their team continues to slide down the Championship table since the appointment of Wayne Rooney as manager last month. The Blues have dropped from sixth to 18th place after suffering a 3-1 defeat against Sunderland on Saturday.

Defensive Concerns

Supporters are particularly worried about the team's defensive problems, which have persisted under Rooney's leadership. The former Manchester United legend has only managed to secure one point in five matches since taking over from John Eustace.

Rooney acknowledged the team's defensive shortcomings in a press conference, stating that "the last three games have seen positives and improvement." However, fans are not convinced and fear that the lack of defensive stability could result in relegation.

Poor Performance Against Sunderland

Birmingham City's loss to Sunderland was marred by sloppy goals and a lack of concentration, according to Rooney. Jobe Bellingham, the younger brother of former Blues player Jude Bellingham, opened the scoring for Sunderland with a stylish goal. Koji Miyoshi equalized for Birmingham, but a Dion Sanderson own goal and a close-range finish from Adil Aouchiche secured victory for the Black Cats.

Rooney expressed frustration at the team's failure to defend set pieces effectively, stating, "In this league, set pieces are so important, and we didn't defend them well enough." Despite causing problems for Sunderland throughout the game, Birmingham City ultimately failed to capitalize on their chances.

Fans Doubt Rooney's Ability as Manager

Many fans have been critical of Rooney's overall suitability as a manager, with some describing his performance as "terrible" and suggesting that he should quit managing altogether. Several supporters pointed out that great players do not necessarily make great managers.

Some fans even believe that the decision to sack John Eustace was a mistake, as they feel the previous manager was doing a good job. CEO Garry Cook had cited a lack of ambition as the reason for Eustace's dismissal in October, but some fans believe that the move was unnecessary.

Despite the mounting criticism, Rooney remains hopeful and believes that the team is capable of turning things around. However, with the Blues' slide continuing, Birmingham City fans are beginning to fear the worst.