Chris Hughton has backed Birmingham City to get the point they need to secure play-off participation.

Another long away trip, to Brighton & Hove Albion, beckons on Saturday.

A draw would guarantee Blues a top-six finish in the Championship as chasing Middlesbrough, in seventh, are five points adrift with a vastly inferior goal difference.

Although Blues are in the midst of an injury plague, they possess the necessary fibre to come good, said the manager.

“They are a very resilient group,” he said. “You look at Ipswich and consider the problems we had going into the game, with players missing, and then we lost Stevie Caldwell during it.

“But that’s what a squad’s for and I know it’s been tested this season, but these players have got character and couldn’t have given anything more.

“Ipswich put us under a fair bit of pressure but we still had chances to have won the game.

“No disrespect to them but they are looking to next season. They played with a bit of freedom, with no pressure.We had more at stake and now we go into another tough away game knowing what we have got to do – but we have still to do it.”

Hughton said Caldwell’s condition would be assessed closely and it was hoped his injury was not serious. He revealed he had been carrying a niggle for a while, which Blues had been able to manage.

“The problem’s a bit higher than his groin and when he goes down in a game, you know he needs to go down, he’s that sort of tough boy is Stevie,” said Hughton.

Blues finish the regular season at home to promoted Reading on April 28. Middlesbrough have Southampton at home on Saturday before ending with Watford away.

Blues go to Brighton seven games unbeaten, which includes four draws.

“It’s a good habit,” said Hughton. “And I suppose if we’d turned those draws to wins we’d already be in a play-off position.”