LEST we forget that Keith Fahey almost won the Carling Cup for Blues.

His snapshot skidded back off the post at Wembley against Arsenal in the second half, allowing the drama right at the death.

Obafemi Martins’ name subsequently went down in club history; it could easily have been Fahey’s.

But that’s what it’s like for the undemonstrative Irishman. It’s easy for people to forget or overlook what he has done and does.

During Blues’ last Championship campaign, Fahey’s move to the left flank brought stability and reliability to the side as the scrap for promotion reached the nitty gritty.

He scored vital goals, not least on the final day in the decider at Reading.

In the Premier League, Fahey had a chequered time of it.

More often than not he was used in that wider role, and although it’s not to his liking, he just got on with things.

He started this season in the same spot, at Derby County, and had a poor game, although he was carrying a slight niggle.

On Saturday he was put inside, in a midfield three, where he can be more effective and, indeed, has been impressive in pre-season.

Ironically, he was hardly having the best of afternoons once more as plenty of his passes, crosses and shots went astray. Yet, in the 72nd minute of a derby that seemed to be heading towards stalemate, he provided the decisive moment that was so needed by Blues.

Fahey darted up in support of Adam Rooney and thumped in his cross after Rooney retrieved the ball from a header that had been brushed on to the post by Joe Murphy.

It was an important goal that not only relieved any tension around St Andrew’s, but got Blues back in the winning groove and got their Championship campaign up and running after the spluttering at Pride Park.

Fahey will have better games for Blues. And, were he to perhaps believe in himself more, play with a swagger and keep on driving forward with the ball as he did on a couple of occasions, he would find his impact heightened.

With all that has happened to Blues since Wembley, Fahey is one of the few remaining links to that glorious February day.

And he will be an important cog for Chris Hughton’s side as Blues have to climb the Championship mountain all over again.