Looking to move off into the third-tier sunset with 2025 on the horizon, Birmingham City will welcome relegation-threatened Burton Albion to St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park on Boxing Day in League One.
Blues delivered late on the road last time out at a disruptive and stubborn Crawley Town, whilst the Brewers suffered a home defeat to Exeter City on the weekend.
Match preview
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After their shock 3-2 defeat at bottom club Shrewsbury Town on November 23, Birmingham head coach Chris Davies promised his players that they could enjoy the entirety of Christmas Day with their families if seven straight wins followed that sobering afternoon in Shropshire.
Five League One wins, one FA Cup success and one EFL Trophy victory later, Blues' star-studded cast will enjoy December 25 in the comfort of their own homes, one day before they attempt to extend their unbeaten record in the Second City to 10 third-tier contests on Boxing Day.
As was the case during the narrow defeat at Charlton Athletic in early October, Birmingham struggled to deal with the aggressive pressing of their opponents in front of the TV cameras on Monday night, when a late Jay Stansfield goal was required to see off Crawley.
Three points against the capable Red Devils moved Blues to the summit of the League One standings after two months away from top spot, with the overwhelming title favourites now one point ahead of second-placed Wycombe Wanderers, who have played a game more than Davies's troops.
Nailing down the troublesome right-midfield spot in the Birmingham XI over recent weeks, Keshi Anderson has been a surprise hero for the Second City giants so far in 2024-25, with the former Blackpool attacker scoring five goals and providing five assists across all competitions.
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With a daunting trip to Birmingham on the Boxing Day agenda, Burton have endured a damaging December to date, a month that has already included an FA Cup exit to part-timers Tamworth, four defeats across all competitions and a serious change in the managerial hotseat after just four months.
New head coach Gary Bowyer has vowed to be ruthless yet honest in his approach as he attempts to keep the Brewers in League One past the conclusion of the campaign, although the 53-year-old's tenure at the club got off to a losing start last time out at the Pirelli Stadium.
It appeared as if Burton were heading towards only their third success of the League One season when Billy Bodin opened the scoring against Exeter inside nine minutes, but goals either side of the half-time whistle from Josh Magennis and Millenic Alli sealed three points for the visiting Grecians.
Victorious in one of their last six third-tier contests, the Brewers are currently occupying 23rd spot in the League One standings ahead of a Boxing Day trip to the Second City, a highly-concerning nine points behind Northampton Town in the relative comfort of 20th place.
That being said, Burton will draw confidence from the fact that they have enjoyed an unexpected away victory already this month on December 4, when Tom Hounsell's Brewers kept a purring Peterborough attack at bay and secured a 1-0 win courtesy of Mason Bennett's first goal of the term.
Team News
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Picking up his fifth yellow card during Birmingham's 19th League One fixture of the term last time out, Christoph Klarer is suspended for the visit of Burton.
As a result, Rangers loanee Ben Davies will require a new partner at centre-back, with captain Krystian Bielik likely to move across from the right side of the back four.
Such a development would allow Ethan Laird to return to the XI, with the ex-Manchester United youngster using his athleticism to great effect during a cameo at Broadfield Stadium on Monday night.
Providing the assist for Bodin's goal versus Exeter, Elliot Watt should retain his spot in the Burton engine room for the trip to the Second City.
A star for Crawley last term, Danilo Orsi had to settle for a place on the bench during Bowyer's first game, although the striker could be given the chance to impress from the start on Boxing Day.
Birmingham City possible starting lineup:
Allsop; Laird, Bielik, Davies, Buchanan; Leonard, Paik, Anderson, Harris, Stansfield; May
Burton Albion possible starting lineup:
Crocombe; Godwin-Malife, Vancooten, Sweeney, Sraha; Gilligan, Watt, Chauke; Kalinauskas, Orsi, Bodin
We say: Birmingham City 3-0 Burton Albion
With a sold-out St Andrew's crowd expecting a routine win, Birmingham should be more than capable of breezing past the attentions of Burton.
The Brewers are likely to enjoy just a slither of the ball in the Second City and could be overwhelmed by the occasion as they battle the title favourites.
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Carter White
