Steve Bruce has pointed to his team's defensive meanness as the key to Blues' promotion push after five 1-0 wins in the last seven games.

And despite the lack of goals at the other end, Bruce believes that his side have provided plenty of entertainment for the fans in the last few games.

"I have always said that defences win you championships. And, of course, strikers win you games," said the Blues chief.

"So if you can marry the two then you've got a really good team.

"We have needed the defence to stand strong because we haven't been as fluent as we'd like in front of goal.

"Take away the Hull game which was a horror show, you can't argue with the hunger and desire to get the result which has been first class.

"They have got an honesty about them which is fantastic and I think they've now grasped what this division is all about.

"We have always got someone that can win us a game with a bit of magic but the one thing you have to do is the muck and nettles and thankfully we are prepared to do it.

"But I thought the Sunderland, Cardiff and Derby games have all been enjoyable. They have been three cracking games at home."

The crucial home win over Derby on Friday night was a perfect example of the way Blues have battled for results of late, particularly having to play for the last 20 minutes with 10 men following Gary McSheffrey's red card.

Bruce described the victory over the Rams as the 'best for weeks'.

"I wanted to us fly at Derby from the start because they had played on the previous Tuesday night," he explained.

"I thought Muamba and Clemence did their jobs magnificently well tracking Barnes and Jones.

"My two big lads looked after Howard and in the end apart from the first two minutes with the header that dropped onto the bar, Derby haven't had a chance.

"I have to say that our all round team performance was probably the best we have done for weeks - and we need another eight of them because that's how many wins we need to be mathematically sure of promotion.

"We are in a good run of form with four wins, one draw and one defeat from the last six games.

"If we can repeat that in the next six games I will be delighted."