Blues Match Zone

Birmingham Desperate for Home Win

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Birmingham go into teir second game without a manager as they bid to win just their second home game of the season.

Bournemouth are on decent form and rest 8th in the league so far. A challenging test for Malcolm Crosby in his second game in charge.

Birmingham may have been predicted to struggle as they have one of the smallest budgets in the league. It seems to be going that way at the moment as Blues head towards a relegation battle territory so early on.

Vital Quotes:

Taken from bcfc.com

Malcolm Crosby on the Blues players’ frame of mind going into Saturday’s game…
‘Their frame of mind is good. I have a chat with Paul Robinson the captain every morning and I`ve told him if they`re not happy about something to tell me. At the minute everybody is fine. All we need is to win a game of football. That`s the key. I always believe you can win a game of football. It doesn`t matter who you play, because you can always catch the best teams on a bad day. I think we`ve got a really tough game because Bournemouth are a very good side who have a really good young manager in Eddie Howe but I`m looking forward to it and by Saturday the players will be as well.’

Crosby on a perceived lack of confidence…
‘I don`t think it`s a lack of confidence. I think they go into every game with confidence. What we`ve done in games is have great opportunities in the first half of games, but if you don`t take them then the pressure builds on the rest of the team. I always say to defenders you`re a much better defender if you`re winning two or three nil, but if it`s nil-nil at 55 or 60 minutes you can become a bit of a nervous defender and we just need to try and get into a position where we are two or thee up and you`ll see a different team.’

Crosby asked what Blues need to do differently to beat Bournemouth…
‘We have played much better this season at home but unfortunately we haven`t got the breaks we would have liked, or as I put it, players have got to take more care when they do get goalscoring opportunities. Your luck comes by somebody taking care of finishing. I know we`ve lost a couple home games but we`ve got to go into it in a positive frame of mind and believing that we can attack Bournemouth and win the game. We are aware that Bournemouth are a good side. It will be a tough game but I don`t see any game in this league as easy.’

Crosby on the possibility of starting with two strikers on Saturday…
‘It`s something we`ve looked at and there`s a possibility I might look to do that. But I thought we did quite well the other night with the way we played. I know sometimes when you play at home you need more bodies in the forward areas though.’

Crosby on Bournemouth…
‘They are a team that is playing well and winning games and Eddie (Howe) has got himself a very good squad together. I`ve spoken to clubs that are near the top and they say when they have played Bournemouth, they were difficult opponents so we have to be ready for them.’

Birmingham City Team News:

David Davis is to return following his hip injury. Stephen Gleeson remains a doubt with a calf injury.

Player to watch: Clayton Donaldson

Blues are not finding the goals they need lately and Donaldson has had his fair share of chances.

The front man is vital today, Blues need him on form to hurt a good Bournemouth side.

Bournemouth Team News:

Bournemouth are set to name an unchanged side which would be a sharp contrast to the unsettled defensive positions of Blues.

Player to watch: Matt Richie

The winger has proved himself an important part of the visitors side since returning from injury last season. Birmingham have issues defending down their flanks and Richie will exploit that.

Match Facts & Stats

bbc.co.uk

? Bournemouth won the last meeting 4-2 at St Andrew’s in March.
? Birmingham have won only one of the last six meetings. Their only win since 1991 was 2-0 at the Goldsands Stadium in December last season.
? Bournemouth have never lost at Birmingham in any competition, winning four and drawing three of the seven meetings there.

Next Fixtures:

01 Nov – Wolves – Championship – 12:15 (A)

04 Nov – Watford – Championship – 19:45 (H)

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