Ben Marshall hopes his match-saving cameo as a substitute at Birmingham will put him into contention for a start against Brighton tomorrow night.
Marshall went on off the bench to force home a deserved equaliser for City at St Andrew's, just when it looked as though they would end up empty-handed after dominating against the Blues for long spells.
Marshall, who has lost his starting slot during the past few weeks after his form dipped, almost won it for City at the death with a free-kick which was sailing into the top corner until a wonderful save from Birmingham keeper Jack Butland.
Marshall admitted his loss of form was causing him concern.
"I had a massive point to prove," he said. "I have not been up to scratch, as they say. Everyone goes through these patches and I just have to keep doing what I have been doing.
"I haven't been doing anything different on and off the pitch. I am just so happy to score.
"I have been through this before and it is hard. I wind myself up easily and it gets harder. You just want to get on and do well. Luckily, I was able to do that (against Birmingham).
"I thought we dominated it from front to back but, once they got a goal, it was a different game.
"I just wanted to get on and express myself because I want to get back into the team. I have to do something in the short time I was on.
"We are quite ruthless at home so, hopefully, we can take that performance into the next two home games and get six more points and stay sitting at the top."
Marshall's 86th-minute strike finally beat Butland but the ball seemed to take ages to cross the line after going in off both posts.
"I thought I hit it well, but I was waiting for about five minutes for it to go in and luckily it did," said Marshall.
