Wayne Rooney sent ‘hostile’ warning as Birmingham City target set before Middlesbrough clash

Birmingham City manager Wayne Rooney has been sent a warning and a clear expectation ahead of his managerial debut against Middlesbrough on Saturday. The new head coach takes over Blues in the top six of the Sky Bet Championship and is immediately under pressure to continue the scintillating form of the first 11 matches.

Most fans are now on board with Rooney after an initial backlash to the sacking of John Eustace but that doesn’t stop the Manchester United and England legend from coming under particular scrutiny. The brutal and sudden nature of the switch in the St Andrew’s dugout means Rooney has an especially heavy weight on his shoulders.

Just a couple of successive defeats against Middlesbrough and Hull City could plummet Birmingham well into the bottom half, so a positive start is a necessity. Former winger Jermaine Pennant, who played for Blues in 2005 and 2006, is well aware of this and has set a clear target for Rooney, as well as a warning about supporters.

“I think the fans have every right to be angry,” Pennant told NewBettingSites.uk. “What John Eustace did for Birmingham and where he has taken them was fantastic. They’re sitting in the play-off spots and the fans were happy with the style of play. To lose your manager in that way can be disheartening.

“I think the minimum expectation now is for Rooney to at least keep Birmingham in the top six. He has a bit more added pressure going into a team that are already doing well, so the minimum is staying in the position that they are already in.

“You bring in a new manager to make the team perform better, so if they start sliding down the table the fans will turn on the new hire very quickly. Birmingham is a hostile place when things aren’t going well. It’s a big risk for him, it’s a big risk for the club. Let’s see how things pan out,” Pennant continued.