MX23RW : Sunday, February 16 20:03:44| >> :120:40901:40901:
[monks data]
Birmingham logo
Championship
Apr 21, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Blackburn logo

2-4

Zigic (63'), Gray (84')
FT(HT: 0-4)
Gestede (10', 20', 45'), Kane (24')

Preview: Birmingham City vs. Blackburn Rovers

Sports Mole looks ahead to Easter Monday's Championship clash between Birmingham and Blackburn at St Andrew's.

Birmingham City's relegation fears seem to be growing by the week at the moment, but they could ease those worries significantly with a victory over Blackburn Rovers at St Andrew's on Easter Monday.

The Blues are still the best-placed team from the six that now realistically face the threat of relegation, but with the teams below them picking up points with increased regularity, they are by no means safe yet.

Indeed, due to results on Good Friday and Easter Saturday, including their own 1-0 defeat at the hands of out-of-form Nottingham Forest, they are now just one point clear of the bottom three and could end Monday in the drop zone should events conspire against them.

However, the likes of Doncaster Rovers, Millwall and Charlton Athletic are all still more vulnerable to relegation than Lee Clark's side, who have the luxury of a game in hand over the majority of the teams below them, as well as superior goal difference.

Recent wins over Millwall and Doncaster have aided their cause greatly, but it will be a concern that they no longer have any of their relegation rivals left to play this season.

It will also be a worry for Birmingham that three of their remaining four matches come at St Andrew's, where they have struggled to date. Their tally of 14 points from 20 games is the worst home record in the division and less than half as many points as they have managed to amass on the road this season.

They have not won in front of their own fans in the league since October, a woeful run of 15 matches, while they have only picked up two points from the last 24 available.

They will have no Lee Novak to call upon in their attempt to improve that statistic, while Paul Robinson is suspended for three matches, having picked up his 15th yellow card of the season against Forest.

Blackburn, meanwhile, find themselves just four points off the playoffs but are unlikely to launch a late push for the top six with a number of teams far better placed than them.

Draws have been their biggest problem in recent weeks, with six from their last nine outings, although they are unbeaten in that time and have not lost a game since March 12.

They have also kept three clean sheets in their last four games, which is a positive aspect for Gary Bowyer to focus on ahead of an anticipated playoff challenge next season.

He will not give up on reaching the top six in the current campaign until it is mathematically impossible, though, and victory on Monday could put them right in the mix should other results go their way.

They have two away fixtures left this season against teams struggling against the drop, and they have been good on the road recently, losing just one of their last eight.

However, they could be without Tommy Spurr who faces a late fitness test due to a groin injury, while Corry Evans and David Dunn are slight doubts as they continue to return to full fitness.

Recent form

Birmingham: LWLWLL

Blackburn: DDWWDD

Possible starting lineups

Birmingham: Randolph; Packwood, Caddis, Ferguson, Hancox; Thorpe, Curke, Spector, Reilly; Huws; Zigic

Blackburn: Robinson; Kilgallon, Evans, Hanley, Lowe; Keane, Conway, Williamson, Cairney; Gestede; Rhodes

Sports Mole says: 1-1


ID:150989: cacheID:150989:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5575:
Written by
Barney Corkhill
No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Blackburn manager Gary Bowyer prior to kick-off against Man City in their FA Cup third round match on January 4, 2013
Read Next:
Preview: Blackburn vs. Yeovil
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Birmingham CityBirmingham29216251193269
2Wycombe WanderersWycombe30179456312560
3Wrexham30177645252058
4Stockport CountyStockport32169749301957
5Huddersfield TownHuddersfield30157843271652
6Leyton Orient301551046271950
7Charlton AthleticCharlton31148940301050
8Bolton WanderersBolton31155115048250
9Reading31147104643349
10Barnsley31127124343043
11Blackpool3191484544141
12Stevenage30118112931-241
13Lincoln CityLincoln311010113838040
14Rotherham UnitedRotherham31108133537-238
15Mansfield TownMansfield30115143841-338
16Exeter CityExeter30105153446-1235
17Bristol Rovers30105153246-1435
18Wigan AthleticWigan2997132730-334
19Northampton TownNorthampton3189142947-1833
20Peterborough UnitedPeterborough3187164758-1131
21Crawley TownCrawley3077163454-2028
22Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury3176183353-2027
23Burton Albion31511153248-1626
24Cambridge UnitedCambridge3158183056-2623


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!