2021-22 Sky Bet Championship: Week 29 – Sunday

Derby County welcome Birmingham City to Pride Park in a huge Midlands derby in the Sky Bet Championship. 

Victory would see Derby stay second-bottom but Wayne Rooney’s Rams can cut their deficit towards safety down to five points.

Birmingham City meanwhile can climb to 16th with a win.

 

Team News

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Ravel Morrison is ruled out for Derby after being red carded in last weekend’s East Midlands derby defeat at Nottingham Forest, although he is currently away on international duty for Jamaica.

Krystian Bielik (knee) and Jack Stretton (unspecified) could both return but aren’t expected to be risked in the starting line-up if pass late fitness tests.

Birmingham manager, Lee Bowyer could hand Juninho Bacuna and Lyle Taylor their first starts for the club, following their respective permanent and loan signings from Rangers and Nottingham Forest this week.

Ivan Sanchez (pelvis), Tahith Chong (groin), Taylor Richards (Coronavirus) and Troy Deeney (thigh) are ruled out.

 

Stat Attack

• Derby have lost just two of their last 11 meetings against Birmingham City (W7, D2, L2), with both losses coming in their last two clashes.
• Birmingham City have won just one of their last five visits to Pride Park (W1, D1, L3).
• Colin Kazim-Richards has scored for Derby in his last two appearances against Birmingham City.
• Derby have kept clean sheets in their last three home games in which they scored four goals (W3).
• Scott Hogan is looking to score in three consecutive matches for Birmingham City for the first time since October-November 2021.

 

Prediction

Having seen their five-match unbeaten resurgence in the Championship ended at Forest, Derby will be rueing their missed chances amidst poor marking on fast-paced attacks from Forest which proved their downfall despite a late consolation goal.

Birmingham City meanwhile are also in improved form with five points from their last four matches but were defensively poor in midweek at home to Peterborough, yet managed to stay stuck in and snatch a draw through two late goals to boost morale.

Add in the fact that this is a sold out clash amidst Derby’s ongoing financial crisis and a cross-Midlands derby, this clash should be a cracker if both teams go for it on the attack but defending will be important at both ends of the pitch.

Prediction: Derby 1-1 Birmingham

Result: Derby 2-2 Birmingham