2023-24 Sky Bet Championship: Week Eight – Friday

Birmingham City look to reignite their promotion challenge at home to QPR in the Sky Bet Championship.

Victory would see Birmingham move up to fourth in the table, whilst QPR can go as high as tenth if they win and depending upon their winning margin.

 

Team News

Siriki Dembele is a doubt for Birmingham City as he nears a return from a hamstring injury.

Lee Buchanan and Lukas Jutkiewicz are both set to return from suspension but George Hall, Ethan Laird (both hamstring) Alfie Chang (knee), and Tyler Roberts (calf) remain absent.

QPR could welcome goalkeeper, Jordan Archer back into contention after he missed their last two matches with illness.

Jimmy Dunne (shoulder) and Jack Colback (suspension) remain ruled out.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Birmingham City host QPR at St Andrew’s in a 8pm BST kick-off on Friday 21 September, live on Sky Sports in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Birmingham City are unbeaten in five of their last seven meetings against QPR (W3, D2, L2).
• QPR are unbeaten in three of their last five visits to Birmingham City (W2, D1, L2).
• The winning team in the last four meetings at St Andrew’s have scored two goals during their wins, with both Birmingham and QPR having each taken two wins apiece across those clashes.
• Jay Stanfield has scored in three of his last four appearances for Birmingham City, only failing to score in a 2-0 away loss at Watford.
• Jack Colback has scored in each of QPR’s last two away games (W1, L1).

 

Prediction

Having hit a rut with one point in their last three matches, Birmingham City will be disappointed with how they lost at Preston because they played well but just lacked end product despite taking the lead, whilst two sloppy defensive errors were deservedly punished.

QPR meanwhile are continuing to grow in confidence and got a deserved point at home to Swansea for their second half dominance, in a game where they grew into the game despite their defensive vulnerability so this game is now about building on that second half performance.

Birmingham though do feel like a stronger test than Swansea so the first goal will be key and if the hosts get in front, they will need to kick on because QPR have found their scoring boots in their last four games so a draw might well be a fair outcome.

Prediction: Birmingham 1-1 QPR

Result: Birmingham 0-0 QPR