As satisfying and confidence-building Bristol City's four-match winning run was, there was always the nagging feeling that three of the victories had been achieved away from Ashton Gate.
It was pertinent because for too long now, City have been a far more effective side on their travels then they have in Bristol.
And so, with 17th-placed , and a chance to move into third, this was perhaps the truest test to decipher whether Lee Johnson's side have turned a corner on their own patch.
But they emphatically , losing 3-1 to an organised and powerful Birmingham and familiar feelings of concern over how the Robins perform.
City enjoyed 58.1 per cent possession (their average in the previous four games was 38.9 per cent) and outpassed Blues 388-285 but lacked penetration as the visitors controlled their own 18-yard line, heading and clearing everything that came their way.
Johnson's team have now dropped 23 points at home, averaging 1.46 against 1.75 on their travels, and with Derby County at BS3 on Wednesday, it's an aspect of this team that urgently needs to change.
As good as they are away from home, without the foundation of form at Ashton Gate, their promotion hopes looks decidedly uncertain ... much like in 2018/19.
Unsurprisingly that was the theme from Robins fans as they shared in their collective misery following the result ...
Meanwhile, on Facebook there was a similar sentiment ...
Ian Horrell: "Dasilva exposed, Massengo ineffective, Smith off the pace, Weimann nightmare, Eliasson travelling to Brum in the excellent Colin's pocket. Best team won, we just can't break teams down, would have been the perfect game for Palmer's passing."
Christopher Green: "A team that should be high with confidence with 4 wins on the spin without conceding looked so low on confidence."
Mark Small: "LJ cant set us up at home and this has been the story for the past 2 seasons."
Connor Heal: "Bored of this every home game."
Ray McFadden: "Who hasn't out played us this season?"
Nigel Dorrington: "There doesn't seem to be a leader/organiser amongst them..."
