Wayne Rooney: Birmingham City manager says he is not panicking despite winless start
- Published
Wayne Rooney's Blues have managed only one goal in his first three games in charge
Birmingham City manager Wayne Rooney insists there is no need to panic as he goes into Saturday's home game with high-riding Ipswich Town still seeking his first point as Blues boss.
After three straight defeats, Rooney told BBC WM: "We knew this would be a tough run of games when I came in.
"I know the fans expect instant results but there's no need for me to panic.
"I'm really calm and happy with the way the players are taking information in and the way they've trained this week."
Rooney added: "Each week I'm seeing an improvement in the players with and without the ball."
Fuelled by the "no fear football" thinking of Blues' American owners, the former Derby County and DC United boss' preferred approach is to create a team capable of attacking their way out of the Championship.
And Rooney remains convinced that all the work done by his players and his coaching staff will bear fruit sooner rather than later if fans can stay patient, and he points to the example of Chelsea's supporters this season with their new manager Mauricio Pochettino.
"I saw Pochettino's comments the other day asking for patience," Rooney said. "And we're only a few weeks into me coming here.
"It's more about the players having the belief that they can do the things I'm asking them to do.
"I've looked through all the stats on this to back me up, and the teams that get out of this league are the ones who play football, teams who have more of the ball."
No manager in Blues' 131-year Football League history has ever lost their first four games in charge and Rooney will be aware of the size of Saturday's task against McKenna's confident Tractor Boys.
Second-placed Ipswich are five points adrift of leaders Leicester City but have broken away from the chasing pack and are now nine clear of third-placed Leeds United.
McKenna's men have only lost once in the Championship this season, at home to Leeds in late August, and have 11 wins from 13 games compared to Blues' five.
Kieran McKenna (left) was already on Manchester United's coaching staff before Wayne Rooney left Old Trafford in 2017
The highly-rated McKenna was already part of Manchester United's backroom staff as Under-18s coach when Rooney left Old Trafford in 2017, and has made a great start in professional club management, getting the Tractor Boys promoted in his first full campaign in charge before lighting the blue touch paper on what so far looks destined to be another memorable season in Suffolk.
"He's a very good young coach," Rooney said. "He had really good experience during some difficult times at Manchester United.
"And he's done incredibly well with Ipswich. He got them promoted and they've started the season in great form.
"We know it's a difficult game for us and we're playing against a good team, but it's a game we can win.
"It's been a challenging month for us, but the next two games [against Ipswich and then away at Sunderland] are big for us going into the international break.
"We've already had some good moments. We just need to do it in games for longer periods of time."
Wayne Rooney was talking to BBC Radio WM's Richard Wilford