In late October, less than two months ago, Birmingham City lost 8-0 at home to AFC Bournemouth. In mid-December, the same club won 6-1 at home to Reading. You would be forgiven for wondering how such a transformation is possible. The answer however, is quite simple: Gary Rowett.

The calamity that was Birmingham’s season has been transformed into a much jollier campaign. As the country prepares for some last-minute Christmas shopping, the Midland’s side look set to not be involved in a last day relegation battle as they were in 2013/14.

Only a last-minute equaliser at Bolton Wanderers kept them in the Championship for another term. Lee Clark had been relatively successful. After all, what club can be expected to achieve so much when there is so much trouble off the pitch?

In contrast, a well-run club in League Two was making headlines for all the right reasons. Having reached the play-offs for the second season running, Burton Albion looked good for promotion to League One for the first time in their history.

Ultimately, that accolade went to financially-backed Fleetwood Town, who won 1-0 in a tight Wembley affair. Rowett-in charge of the Brewers since 2012-stayed on at the club, determined to get Albion promoted.

He was after all, coming up to a decade of affiliation with the club, having ended his playing career in 2007, following his arrival two years previously. He worked his way through as a coach and was given the job following Paul Peschisolido’s departure.

Lee Clark was axed as the Blues manager in October when it looked as though the club would fall foul of relegation. One home win in 12 months was just not good enough. Back in League Two, and Rowett was doing everything the former Huddersfield Town boss was not-winning.

Malcolm Crosby was the man put in charge of the 8-0 demolition by Bournemouth. Before the game, he said that he was interested in the job on a full-time basis. He told the Birmingham Mail: “I am interested,” before adding: “If I am going to become the manager…I am going have to start winning a few games.”

Or not lose them 8-0. Yes, Crosby was certainly not going to be handed the reins permanently. Birmingham fan Pete Jeffries said: “After the Bournemouth game, some of the fans and me were saying, ‘Perhaps Clark was a genius. Perhaps this team should have been losing 8-0 every week. Losing 3-1 didn’t seem so bad after that.”

Now though, Jeffries knows that the club is so much better than that. One defeat in seven games since Rowett was tempted to make the short move across the A38.

Rowett was already known to the Blues fans, having spent two years there as a player, during which time they reached the play-offs. That is not the objective for this season, but anything is possible after a summer with Rowett at the helm, as Burton fans will attest to.

The impact that the Bromsgrove-born man has had at Birmingham was unimaginable even by the standards of the most optimistic of Blues’ fans. A 0-0 draw at then high-flying Wolverhampton Wanderers in front of the live Sky cameras was sensational, given it came less than a full week since shipping eight at home.

The 2-1 home victory over Watford in midweek was scarcely believable. Since then, clean sheets have followed against Cardiff City and Rotherham United.

Rowett’s only defeat was at bottom-of-the-table Blackpool, the club managed by recently axed Lee Clark, who no doubt wanted to win that game more than any other. Rowett himself has rejected the chance to take charge of The Seasiders whilst former boss Jose Riga was still in the hotseat.

That sole blip in Rowett’s reign was undoubtedly followed by the most impressive result in his tenure thus far, the 6-1 taking apart of inconsistent Reading.

In seven games, Birmingham have conceded less than half of the goals they let in in one solitary afternoon six weeks ago. So, how has Rowett changed the fortunes of the club around with the same resources as his predecessor? Perhaps it is ‘new-manager syndrome’. If it is, it has moved them from second-bottom to seven points above relegation in under two months. The 15th place position in which they currently occupy is down to more than a fluke.

It was at the back where Birmingham have been struggling more than anywhere else. Clark, in his heyday, was a midfielder, and a creative one at that. Rowett meanwhile, was a tough-tackling defender. The knowledge of that position has served Birmingham well, just as it did Burton.

Of course, there is some fortune. Demarai Gray scored a hat-trick in Saturday’s victory. At 18, the winger is only just coming of age. A couple of months ago, when Clark was in charge, Gray would not have possessed the same amount of strength or confidence as he does at present.

Some people claim that Rowett has been blessed with a plethora of winnable games. That simply is not the case. Of the seven games Rowett has presided over, five have been versus top-half sides. In fact, the two that were not-both away trips to Blackpool and Rotherham-Birmingham were less than impressive.

The afore-mentioned 1-0 defeat in Lancashire, coupled with a tight 1-0 victory over a Millers side in the middle of their current nine game winless run, are not results that will be remembered come the end of the campaign.

Perhaps then, it is simply that Rowett is a better fit at the club. Or that he has not had to endure the worst of the off-the-pitch troubles during his own time at the club.

Then, of course, it could all come down to luck. Maybe we have to wait a little longer before we can make a final decision on the matter. But, results do not lie, and Birmingham’s 15th place in the table does not flatter them. It may be advent, though nothing in football is wrapped up at this stage. At present however, Birmingham fans can enjoy their Christmas and not feel quite so blue.