BIRMINGHAM City's stuttering form makes them no less of a threat, according to Derby County manager Nigel Clough.
Today's visitors to Pride Park Stadium sit 19th in the Championship before this afternoon's round of matches.
They have won only two of their last nine games and slipped to a 3-2 defeat at home to Hull City a week ago.
Marlon King hit his 10th goal of the season in the defeat and the striker, coupled with wide midfielder Chris Burke, are two of the reasons why Clough believes Birmingham pose a threat to any team in the division.
King has scored six in his last six appearances, including a hat-trick at Millwall, and the 32-year-old is enjoying another good season with the Blues. He scored 18 goals last season, one of which came against Derby.
Birmingham are the 10th club of his career and his record for them reads 25 goals in 56 League games.
Clough has been a fan of Burke for some time.
"He is as good a wide midfield player as there is the Championship," said the Rams boss.
Burke impressed during two and a half years at Cardiff where he displayed his ability to create and score goals.
He joined Birmingham in the summer of 2011 on a free transfer.
The form of 19-year-old Ravel Morrison in central midfield has also caught the eye. Morrison, on loan from West Ham United, has been praised by Birmingham's assistant manager Terry McDermott, who knows a thing or two about playing midfield.
McDermott won 14 trophies, including three European Cups, in his playing days with Liverpool. He believes Morrison can go right to the very top.
"He's a great talent," said McDermott.
"He's a great kid and he wants to do well here.
"He's got the ability to go right to the top and he will do if he listens to the right people, like the manager and the coaching staff.
"We've all helped him but we know there's more to come."
Recent form suggests Birmingham feel happier on the road at the moment than they do at home.
They have lost four of their last six at St Andrew's. A 5-0 thumping by Barnsley and a 1-0 reversal at the hands of struggling Ipswich Town sit among those defeats.
On the road, Lee Clark's team has lost only one of their last six. They have won at Leeds and Brighton and drawn at Blackburn, Millwall and Nottingham Forest.
"Lee Clark is trying to settle the side down," said Clough, "but when you look at the squad on paper, it is quite frightening.
"Everybody is under pressure to get results in the Championship. You are two or three wins away from the play-offs or the bottom three."
On the subject of managers, Clough said with a wry smile: "It seems winning the FA Cup and the Champions' League is not enough for some."
Clough was referring to the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo as Chelsea boss.
"It shows the incredibly harsh realities of football management," added Clough.
