Birmingham City welcome West Bromwich Albion to St Andrew’s Stadium in an untelevised Super Sunday clash in the Sky Bet Championship.
Victory would see Birmingham City climb to 18th in the table, whereas a win would lift West Brom up to 11th and put them five points off the play-off positions.
Team News
Onel Hernandez is available for Birmingham City after recovering from surgery on a thumb injury.
Troy Deeney (thigh) could also feature if he is declared match-fit but George Friend (calf) and Teden Mengi (hamstring) remain absent.
West Brom will have Semi Ajayi, Taylor Gardner-Hickman, Jayson Molumby, Dara O’Shea and Callum Robinson all available, after the quintet all returned from international duty without injury.
Daryl Dike (tendon), Kenneth Zohore (muscle), Kean Bryan (knee) and Matt Phillips (foot) are ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Birmingham City are winless in their last eight league meetings against West Brom (D3, L5).
- West Brom have claimed eight points from their last seven visits to Birmingham City (W2, D2, L3).
- Birmingham have kept just one clean sheet in their last nine meetings against West Brom in all competitions (D3, L6), drawing 0-0 in June 2020 albeit away at The Hawthorns.
- Birmingham City are looking to avoid going four league matches without a goal for the first time since a six-match run without scoring since September – October 2021 (D2, L4).
- West Brom have conceded twice in five of their last six away matches (D1, L4).
Prediction
With safety virtually all but assured, Birmingham City now really do need to start addressing their inconsistent form during this run-in if not at least to give them some positive momentum going into next season.
Lee Bowyer however should be encouraged by Birmingham’s recent improvement with just one loss in their last four matches, yet they haven’t strung a run of wins together since November so I would like to see them come out and show more attack in this West Midlands derby if just for morale.
West Brom have also shown an improvement in form in their last four matches but they realistically need to win their last eight matches, if they’re to achieve the ultimate comeback to claim a play-off spot which will require serious defensive improvements to give them the best shot possible.
I am however expecting a competitive clash because both teams will want this win for different reasons beyond local pride, yet West Brom should win this if they bring their best attacking game and tidy up their defending.
Prediction: Birmingham City 1-2 WBA
Result: Birmingham City 1-0 WBA
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