Birmingham take on Ipswich Town at St Andrews tonight in their second home fixture of the Sky Bet Championship.
Birmingham will be hoping to build on the confidence of overcoming a respected Brighton last Saturday. Wes Thomas scored the goal that game Birmingham all three points and plenty of pride.
Ipswich Town will be hoping for the playoff’s this season with the experience of Mick McCarthy at the helm. The tractor boys have recruited David McGoldrick to shoot them into promotion after scoring 16 goals for Forest last year.
Vital Quotes:
Lee Clark
They are a big powerful team, the front two are a good pair, good foil for each other. Obviously with them being a big team, they are a big threat from set pieces so we can’t give those away cheaply. To add to that, they are managed by a very experienced manager (Mick McCarthy) who we know will have them well-drilled so we expect a really tough game.’
Birmingham City Team News:
Lee Clark is likely to name a settled back for which could mean Paul Robinson may have to settle for the bench again.
David Davis and Lee Novak both remain available despite both picking up injuries in the win over Brighton.
Andrew Shinnie could miss the came after picking up a muscle strain in yesterdays development fixture.
Matt Green still is yet to return to full training and Gavin Gunning will not play again this season.
Player to watch: David Cotterill
The Welsh winger has been pulling out all the stops in every performance since signing from Doncaster in the summer.
I am expecting plenty of balls into the box and he likes to mix up his game. A handful for Ipswich if they do not find a way to stop him.
Ipswich Town Team News:
Defender Elliot Hewitt will be the subject of a late fitness test after a groin injury in their defeat at Reading.
Jonathan Parr looks set to debut for the visitors along with a return for Paul Anderson.
Player to watch: David McGoldrick
Ipswich will be hoping they avoid a slip into midtable this year and they have tried to do that by signing this man.
A good addition to their fire power and possibly the most dangerous factor for Birmingham today.
Match Facts & Stats
BBC:
– Ipswich won the last meeting 1-0 at Portman Road in March.
– Ipswich are unbeaten in the last five meetings, winning three.
– Birmingham’s last win was 2-1 at St Andrew’s in January 2012.
– Ipswich have won only one of their last 14 visits to Birmingham in all competitions. Their only win since 1986 was 1-0 in the Championship in November 2012.
Match Prediction:
I would be happy with a home draw from this one. Ipswich were unlucky not to beat Reading and they are a good side with plenty of ambition. They will be coming here tonight to win.
With that said, Blues have now thrown down the message for home games this season – play to win. That is what I am hoping for and want to see, a tough front foot display, delivering all three points!
Next Fixtures:
Sat 23 August Brentford The Sky Bet Championship K.O 15:00 A
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