THE Carling Cup runneth over – only not the way Blues wanted.

There was always a danger that everything Blues put into beating Arsenal in the final at Wembley would take a physical, mental and emotional toll.

And it undoubtedly did as Blues were simply not what we have come to expect in the way they lost a key derby to Albion.

The Baggies deserved the spoils and a precious three points that helped shove Blues into the Premier League’s relegation zone.

They played with more synchronicity, clarity and purpose, got the breaks, and were very strong and sound defensively.

The latter has hardly been their forté this season, but Roy Hodgson seems to be shaping them into a much more difficult nut to crack.

The loss of Barry Ferguson, Craig Gardner and Martin Jiranek to Wembley injuries was another factor that didn’t help Blues.

And at the back Blues lacked their normal assured security and conceded goals that were soft, the sort they usually would not.

With a visit to Everton in midweek – one of their games in hand on the other drop-threatened teams – and then more cup fare, in the FA Cup quarter-final against Bolton Wanderers, it’s a big week.

Somehow Blues have to dig deep and, arguably, the Goodison Park trip is the more important and pressing engagement.

But can they really take the FA Cup less seriously after what we saw happen so memorably in the Carling Cup?

It’s a delicate balancing act for Alex McLeish, whose side have now lost two consecutive home matches in the league.

The Newcastle United reverse was a game too far after Blues’ exertions in the weeks up to it; they were flat.