FOR all the brain-scrambling permutations and what ifs everyone has been trying to make sense of, it’s become quite simple now.

Fulham at St Andrew’s next weekend is Blues’ day of destiny, a match that they simply have to win.

They may have a two-point advantage over Wolves and three over Blackpool and Wigan at the bottom of the Premier League.

Sure, matters could hinge on how those teams do as well. And perhaps for the first and only time, Blues fans will not mind if West Ham United and their former owners win at Wigan on Sunday.

The Hammers just have a little too much to do to catch Blues, you would imagine.

But ultimately what happens against Mark Hughes’ side is going to be significant.

Matters are in Blues’ own hands and a stumble at the penultimate hurdle is unthinkable.

You would hope that Fulham might have the flip-flops on, a bit like Albion at Molineux yesterday until it was too late.

And that Blues maintain the bristling drive and determination they have shown in their last three games at St Andrew’s.

They should do. And, as this match means so much more to them than the visitors, that has to be reflected in the first tackle, the first few attacks, the tempo, to tell Fulham they are in for a long afternoon.

It’s ironic that it’s Fulham, too. Not only do they have old boys Andrew Johnson and Stephen Kelly in the ranks, a player in Bobby Zamora that Alex McLeish wanted to sign, but they condemned Blues to their last relegation in 2008 with a 2-0 win at the Cottage in the second-but-last game of the season.