Gary Rowett insists more is to come from his Birmingham side

Birmingham boss Gary Rowett says there is still more to come from his side as they push for a Championship play-off spot.

The Blues are currently in ninth place and are just two points behind sixth-placed Sheffield Wednesday - with Cardiff and Ipswich sandwiched in the middle - but they have a crucial game in hand over their rivals.

Speaking to the FL72 Podcast, Rowett believes the positivity and ambition of the team means there is still more to come from his side after their incredible turnaround over the last 18 months. 

FL72 Live

"I still think there's potential," he said. "We haven't hit the ceiling on what we can achieve, but what the team are doing is giving us everything they can at the moment in terms of their energy, effort and commitment. 

"We're really pleased with what we've done so far but we're still very positive and ambitious. There's more to come and we're thoroughly trying to search for that golden recipe of these last few games that can see us move into one of those play-off spots.

"We have a string of three home games about six games from the finish so our aim really is to still be in the mix by then.

"We have to keep working incredibly hard and hope that those three home games could be an amazing week for the club and the fans. But we've got a lot of work to do in the meantime to make sure we're in contact with those places."

Rowett arrived at St Andrews in October 2014 with Birmingham having just suffered an 8-0 defeat to Bournemouth and languishing near the foot of the table in 21st place. 

But a remarkable improvement saw the Blues finish the season in 10th position and the momentum has continued in the current campaign with the manager putting it down to commitment and unity with his players.

Rowett said: "It's always about that collective hard work and team dynamic and we're very big on that. The players have bought in to what we're doing with good results and I think the better your results get, the more the players buy into it because they want success. 

"Certainly as a group, we've always tried to maintain that we stand side-by-side and we'll all try and help each other so that's how I will work as a manager.

"If I've got honest players who work hard and they make a mistake, then the only time I'll ever lambaste them is if they don't try and get on the ball again or they don't try to do the right thing.

"You have to have a relationship with your players these days, but the key is to make sure those relationships don't cloud the tough decisions you have to make to make the club successful because ultimately, that's all I'm interested in - seeing how successful we can make Birmingham City."

The Blues make the short trip across the city to play Wolves on Sunday afternoon - live on Sky Sports - and Rowett is hoping the derby incentive will play into their favour. 

He said: "We've got to go there and use the fact that it's a local derby and make sure Wolves don't use the fact it's a local derby to inspire them to want to beat us more than we want to beat them. 

"I think it's been a difficult job for Kenny Jackett this season. Wolves have had a lot of transition in terms of the club still being up for sale and that little bit of uncertainty at that end and they've lost some of their best players.

"I think any manager in that position knows what it's like. We lost Demarai Gray so we know how it feels for a club to suddenly have your best attacking weapons taken out of your team so it's difficult."

With a fight for a place in the Premier League in their sights, Rowett is adamant that the top flight is his target for Birmingham in the future. 

"Ultimately in the short term, our aim is to certainly challenge very hard to get back into the Premier League, as difficult as that is with the resources we have at the moment," he said.

"Of course, long term we're going to have to be in a different position to challenge to go up and then challenge to stay in the Premier League.

"But I believe Birmingham City - among many other teams in this division - have the ability to get into the Premier League one day again and stay there."