A new era will begin for Birmingham City this Saturday lunchtime when they face local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers in a Midlands derby at Molineux.

Gary Rowett is the new man at the helm of the club following an ill-fated two-year spell under Lee Clark, who was sacked earlier this month having won just two of his 13 games in charge this season.

His departure did nothing to prevent the Blues from plunging to new depths last weekend, however, as an early red card contributed to a horrific collapse against Bournemouth, eventually losing 8-0 in front of their own fans.

It is the home form that will be top of Rowett's agenda to fix as Birmingham have won just one of their last 25 outings at St Andrew's, a run that will have stretched back more than 13 months when they next play at home.

By contrast, their away form has not been quite as bad. More than half of their points this season have come on the road, and it was their away performances last season that saved them from relegation to League One.

Rowett will not care too much where the points come from, though, as long as they arrive soon, with Birmingham sitting 23rd in the Championship table after 14 games.

The players will certainly be keen to show a reaction to their humiliation last time out, but Rowett will be forced into at least one change with David Edgar suspended.

Wolves boss Kenny Jackett has given his backing to Rowett, but he will be hopeful that the former Burton Albion boss doesn't get off to a winning start this weekend.

Last season's League One champions have make a fine start back to life in the second tier of English football and come into this match sitting joint top of the table.

Things are very tight up there, however, with just three points separating the top six, so Jackett will know that a poor run of form could see them slip out of the playoff places in no time.

They have lost just twice in the league all season, however, and come into this match on the back of a four-game unbeaten streak that includes victory in their last two.

The most recent of those came last Saturday, when Leon Clarke's late strike sealed a comeback victory over Leeds United at Elland Road.

That goal could be enough for the previously out-of-favour striker to have earned a start this weekend, although that would be less likely should Bakary Sako pass a late fitness test.

Wolves have won more points at home than any other side in the Championship this season, dropping just five of a possible 21, and if they can keep that sort of form up until May then they could well be on course for back-to-back promotions.

The hosts have also not lost a league game against Birmingham since 2010, when Kevin Phillips scored a late brace to clinch a 2-1 win in the Premier League.

Recent form

Wolves: WWDDLD

Birmingham: LLLDWL

Possible starting lineups

Wolves: Ikeme; Doherty, Batth, Ebanks-Landell, Rowe; Evans, McDonald, Henry, Edwards, Sako; Dicko

Birmingham: Randolph; Eardley, Hall, Robinson, Grounds; Cotterill, Caddis, Gleeson, Novak; Donaldson, Thomas

Sports Mole says: 3-2

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