Birmingham still have play-offs belief - Roberts

Birmingham City winger Patrick Roberts says "the belief's still there" that they can clinch a Championship play-off place this season.

Blues were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by 10-man Sheffield United at St Andrew's last weekend - a result that left them seven points adrift of sixth spot with eight games to play.

Chris Davies' side had looked in good shape to claim an important three points once Marvin Ducksch put in them in front, two minutes after Blades defender Femi Seriki was sent off for bringing down a clean-through Ibrahim Osman.

But James Beadle had to save Sydie Peck's penalty two minutes later to keep Blues ahead, only for Patrick Bamford to equalise right on half-time.

Despite having 18 shots, with seven on target, forcing seven corners and hitting the woodwork four times, Birmingham could not muster a winner.

Roberts said being pegged back just before the break was "a real killer" and they had fallen the wrong side of the game's "fine margins".

"[They] are what separates being up at the top and where we are at the minute," he told BBC Radio WM.

"We've got a few big games coming up so we need to really capitalise on that and put a good run together."

Despite the current gap to Wrexham in the final play-off place, Blues remain confident they can put a telling run together.

"Of course," Roberts said.

"I've been in this league so long. I've been down the bottom, I've been down the middle, I've been up in the play-offs and you just never know.

"So there's a lot of football still to be played, you pick up a lot of wins then you just never know at the end of the season.

"The belief's still there, the manager has belief in us, us as players have belief. It's just about getting on the pitch and doing it. We are good players, we are a good team, we know that.

"I think putting the ball in the back of the net has been a task but I think we need to do more of that and I'm sure that will come."