Just three days after a heartbreaking defeat to second bottom side Charlton Athletic, Gary Rowett’s Birmingham City are preparing themselves for the visit of Brighton and Hove Albion.
The Seagulls, who are currently third in Sky Bet Championship with 72 points, head to St.Andrews on Tuesday night hoping to do the double over Rowett’s Blues.
Last season, Blues picked up their first home win in 10 months as Wes Thomas scored the only goal of the game when the two sides met in August 2014 and the same scoreline won’t be sniffed at again if it was offered to any Blues fan I don’t think.
Chris Hughton’s side have been very impressive this season and they, like Blues, have defied all the odds to get to where they are and even now, they continue to defy them as more and more people begin to believe in their promotion challenge.
When they visit B9, they will be hoping to overtake Middlesbrough, who sit in second, and extent their unbeaten run 14 games.
Both squads have been very pushed this season but I believe I have managed to pick out one of the best five-a-side teams that we have seen all season so here we go…
GK: Tomasz Kuszczak.
The goalkeeping spot for this week was really difficult to choose but because I know Brighton have some very good attacking players, I opted to stick with Kuszczak in goal.
The Polish keepers handling has got a lot better as the season has gone on and he is continuing to flourish at the club, which is great to see, but in recent weeks his clean sheet ratio has taken a hit but that takes nothing away from him this season.
With 15 clean sheets to his name, the same as David Stockdale in the Albion goal, Kuszczak has had a fantastic season and here’s hoping he has another good eight games in goal for Blues.
DF: Paul Caddis.
Another hotly contested spot in defence this week but for similar reasons once again, Caddis takes it for me.
We all know that the Scottish international is one of the best attacking right backs outside the Premier League, his stats show it, and for that reason I wanted him in the five-a-side team this week.
His nutmeg on Saturday against Charlton was delightful and if he continues to attack like he usually does then I am hoping that the goals will keep coming down that right hand side.
MF: Jon Toral and Anthony Knockaert.
Both attacking players have been selected for this weeks five man team because of the impact that they have had on their squads this season.
Toral, who is on a season long loan from Premier League side Arsenal, found the back of the net for the eight time this season on Saturday at the Valley and he has been a revelation for Blues this campaign.
If there was any way he could come back to the club next season, then I think most Blues fans would love to have him back because everyone can see what a terrific player he actually is.
Next to Toral I have decided to go for the former Leicester City man Knockaert. Netting twice in his 13 appearances for the club, the Belgium midfielder has been first class since he joined at the start of January.
The impact that he has been able to generate is one that most managers would love to see in their squads and with the form that he is in at the moment, I bet he plays a massive role in Tuesday’s game.
ST: Tomer Hemed.
The 28 year old striker has been on fire this season, scoring 15 goals in all competitions for the Seagulls and that is the reason why he is in my team this week.
What ever he seems to touch lately turns into a goal, with seven in his last 10, so if there was anybody who I would be backing to score in the game on Tuesday it would be Hemed.
Blues and Seagulls fans, what do you make of this weeks five-a-side team? Have we made the right choices? Let us know in the comment section down below!
Share this article
Related Articles
