The pressure was on Cameron Jerome after Steve Bruce paid Cardiff City £3m for his services last season. After scoring a vital late goal in the victory over Wolves last week, he followed it up with one of the strikes that secured Birmingham City's Premiership return this weekend. Givemefootball's Ian Clarkson caught up with the England Under 21 forward to find out what had been the secret of the club's success.
Q:YOU WERE THE SUBJECT OF A BIG TRANSFER FEE IN THE SUMMER AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE GONE A LONG WAY TO RE-PAYING THAT MONEY IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS?
A:There have been times this season when I have not felt that I've performed as well as I could have. And the manager did pay a lot of money for me, which was based on my potential. I've been training hard and I've now done the business in the last couple of games which were incredibly important to the club, so it's obviously pleasing.
Q:COMING OFF THE BENCH, YOU ARE DEVELOPING A BIT OF A REPUTATION FOR BEING A SUPER-SUB?
A:The gaffer has chucked me on late on the second half and I have managed to nab a couple of late goals so I am delighted with that. And so are the rest of the players!
Q:AFTER THE DRAMA AT WOLVES YOU WERE IN THE THICK OF IT AGAIN AGAINST SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY, WEREN'T YOU?
A:It was just an important goal because after I scored the whole atmosphere changed. The fans came out singing and everyone ran that extra yard. You could see in the stadium how much it meant and the first goal was the catalyst.
Q:THE PRESSURE HAS BEEN ON THE CLUB ALL SEASON, IT MUST BE A RELIEF?
A:There is an expectation about the teams who come down from the Premiership to get straight back up but look at West Brom who are struggling a bit. It's never easy. We have struggled from time to time too and it has not been all rosy. But once we got our mentality right we went 11 games unbeaten.
Q:WAS THAT THE TURNING POINT?
A:That was the catalyst because people wanted the gaffer out but he has brought every player to this club and we felt we owed it to him. We have shown that on the pitch. With the amount of money we have spent and the history of the club it deserves to be in the Premiership. I think we do belong in the Premiership. There are not many teams outside the Premiership who have the squad we have got. Most of the lads deserve to be in the Premiership.
Q:AND YOU MUST BE PLEASED FOR STEVE BRUCE TOO?
A:Yes, especially for the gaffer. He has kept his confidence in me. Last October, the fans were calling for his head but he turned it around and we went 13 games unbeaten. It wasn't just our jobs on the line but his as well. But he said we had the squad to go up and we have proved him right.
Q:WHAT WOULD YOU SAY HAS BEEN THE SECRET OF SUCCESS?
A:Keeping a clean sheet, really, because we all feel that we have a goal in the side. It was like that against Sheffield Wednesday, we were a bit nervous. But you don't have to score in the first few minutes.
Q:WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN THIS SUMMER?
A:The manager is going to strengthen in every department but there are a lot of good young players at this club and he has brought in everyone which should hopefully give us a stepping stone for the future.
Q:AND WHAT ARE YOU HOPING FOR AFTER SUNDAY'S GAME AT PRESTON?
A:Well, firstly, we have to try and win that match because we want to give the fans something to cheer about by going up as champions. We cannot relax because they are going for the play-offs. So it should be a good game. But when the season is over, now that we are up, I'm hoping the chairman will fork out a few quid for the lads to go away!
