Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Birmingham City and Coventry City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
With League One football next season becoming an ever-increasing possibility, Birmingham City will battle for three points when Coventry City visit St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park on Saturday in the Championship.
Blues are in real danger of losing their second-tier status after defeat in the week, whilst the Sky Blues suffered a setback in their bid for a top-six place.
Match preview
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Birmingham took another step towards League One on Wednesday night, when a Cardiff City side who are marooned in mid-table turned up at St Andrew's and secured three points for their journey back to South Wales, with former Blackpool winger Josh Bowler providing the game-winning moment in the second half.
Just a day earlier, Blues chairman Tom Wagner revealed plans to spend up to £3bn on a 'Sports Quarter' in the heart of the city, including a 62,000-seater stadium in which the club would be aiming to compete at the top end of the Premier League, whilst also hosting major international events.
Therefore, it is an understatement to say this week has already been a rollercoaster for Birmingham supporters who are praying that their side can avoid a first drop into the third tier of English football since the 1990s, with Gary Rowett's men currently 23rd, one point from safety with just four matches left to play.
Since the departure of Tony Mowbray to receive medical treatment in the middle of February, Blues have won just the single Championship match in 10 attempts under a mixture of Mark Venus and the returning Rowett, with only Rotherham United faring as poorly over that specific period.
Following Saturday's home clash with Coventry, Birmingham face the already-relegated Millers before travelling to relegation rivals Huddersfield Town, and it is not foolish to suggest that Blues could require at least six points from those three matches to secure Championship football in August.
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Although the chance of putting a nail in the coffin of Birmingham's second-tier existence will be a motivation for Midlands rivals Coventry on Saturday, Mark Robins's side are fully focused on their own ambitions for the remainder of the season, in which they could enjoy a double Wembley triumph.
That being said, the Sky Blues' journey towards the top six has stuttered since the beginning of April, with Saturday's visitors losing their second match in three on Tuesday night, being defeated at the home of Russell Martin's promotion-chasing Southampton.
Coventry found themselves two goals behind at the half-time break due to strikes from Kyle Walker-Peters and ex-Birmingham marksman Che Adams, and although Jake Bidwell found the net for the Sky Blues in the second period, they were unable to earn anything from their visit to the South Coast.
Since securing an FA Cup semi-final clash with Manchester United, Robins's side have struggled with consistency as they seek to reach the playoffs in back-to-back campaigns - Coventry managed to end Leeds United's unbeaten streak on April 6, just five days after losing to Cardiff.
Heading into the final weeks of the regular season, the Sky Blues are currently occupying seventh position in the Championship standings, sitting five points behind David Wagner's Norwich City in sixth, however Robins's troops have played a game fewer than the Canaries.
Birmingham City Championship form:
- L
- L
- L
- W
- L
- L
Coventry City Championship form:
- W
- W
- W
- L
- W
- L
Coventry City form (all competitions):
- W
- W
- W
- L
- W
- L
Team News
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Birmingham are sweating over the fitness of left-back Lee Buchanan, who complained of a groin issue in the closing stages of the Cardiff defeat, being replaced by Cody Drameh.
Blues remain without the services of Marc Roberts, Lukas Jutkiewicz and Oliver Burke, with the former two major absentees during a period in which Rowett's side need big characters.
Alfie Chang has missed the entire campaign with a cruciate ligament injury, and the 21-year-old will be hoping that he can return to a Championship squad at the start of the 2024-25 term.
Coventry could be without right-back Milan van Ewijk, who suffered a knock during the loss at St Mary's last time out.
Tatsuhiro Sakamoto was a nuisance for the Birmingham backline during the reverse fixture, however the attacker will be unable to feature in the Second City due to a back injury.
Matt Godden remains out of action owing to a leg issue, meaning that Haji Wright and Ellis Simms will be tasked with finding the net for the visitors once again.
Birmingham City possible starting lineup:
Ruddy; Laird, Sanderson, Aiwu, Drameh; Bielik, Sunjic, Anderson, James, Miyoshi; Stansfield
Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Collins; Latibeaudiere, Thomas, Kitching, Bidwell; Sheaf, Eccles, Palmer, O'Hare, Wright; Simms
We say: Birmingham City 1-2 Coventry City
Birmingham's confidence is at an all-time low following Wednesday's defeat to Cardiff, and it is going to take quite the performance to beat Coventry this weekend.
Despite a number of injury doubts in their squad, the Sky Blues should be good enough to take maximum points back to the East Midlands on Saturday evening.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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