Gary Rowett instructs out-of-form Birmingham City to "knuckle down"

Gary Rowett has told his out-of-form Birmingham City side to "knuckle down" and "crack on" as the Championship season edges towards its final two months.

Last night's 4-2 defeat at Ipswich Town made it nine games in all competitions without a win for the Blues after they lost just twice in 13 games following Rowett's appointment in October.

It is the worst run of Rowett's managerial career, but he is confident that their fortunes can change.

"We take that on the chin as a unit," Rowett told the club website after last night's loss at Portman Road. "We have got to knuckle down, not feel sorry for ourselves and crack on.

"We won eight out of the first 11 and weren't shouting from the rooftops; we have not won in eight league games now so we've just got to make sure we stick together and work really hard so our fortunes change."

With 13 games of the season to go, Birmingham are 17th in the table, eight points clear of the bottom three.