Birmingham City host Ipswich Town this weekend in what is another crucial game in the race for a play-off spot.
The visitors, managed by ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Mick McCarthy, currently sit one spot above Blues and they are two points better off as well.
If Blues perform like they did against Derby County last weekend then a result shouldn’t be out of their reach!
There are several threats that the Tractor boys possess, especially Daryl Murphy and I think if Gary Rowett doesn’t get a repeat of Saturday’s game at the iPro stadium then we could easily be in trouble and we could lose ground on the play-offs.
Having watched Ipswich quite a few times this season it is clear that they like to be quite direct and they will try and bring Murphy into the game through their wingers.
Paul Caddis and Jonathan Grounds could both have their hands full during this play-off hopeful clash but that’s not to say that they won’t be able to cope!
Below is the five-a-side team that I have created for this weekend’s game and after much inspection I feel like I have come up with the best possible squad.
GK: Tomasz Kuszczak.
The former Manchester United shot stopper just makes it into this weeks team and last weekend’s performance is the reason I have chosen him.
I know that he didn’t really have anything to do in the game but it was his ninth clean sheet in the league for the season and Ipswich have only managed to keep eight.
Therefore, Kuszczak has the better ratio and keeping clean sheets is vitally important so that is the reason that he made it into my side.
DF: Paul Robinson.
I have chosen to include Robinson once again for my five-a-side team because he has once again started to show his worth to Rowett’s side.
A superb outing against the Rams showed that even though he is 37, Robbo has what it takes to compete at this level.
The former Bolton Wanderers defender hadn’t scored a goal in eight years but so far this season he has three goals to his name and because of that threat from set pieces, I had to put Robinson in my team.
MF: Ryan Fraser and Maikel Kieftenbeld.
The two midfielders that I have picked are probably the two that are the picks of the bunch from both of the Sky Bet Championship team.
Fraser is currently on loan from Premier League side AFC Bournemouth and he has made a real impression during his 18 appearances in all competitions.
The 21 year old has found the back of the net five times for McCarthy’s men and he has also chipped in with a handful of assists which makes him very dangerous to Blues.
For his sole attacking threat that he offers, Fraser has earned himself a spot in this weeks five-a-side midfield.
Dutchman Kieftenbeld has been a shining light in the past few weeks for Birmingham City and he is proving to be the buy of the season in the second tier of English football.
The 25 year old has netted two goals this month against Derby and Brentford respectively and we are starting to see what he is truly about.
His attacking threat throughout the game and his defensive tenacity just excites everybody that watches him and for that reason he needed to be in my team.
ST: Daryl Murphy.
At the age of 32 some would say that Murphy is past it now but after hitting form last season, he certainly hasn’t let us this season.
I could have included Brett Pitman in the team because he has the same amount of goals as Murphy but the pure physicality of the Ireland international just tipped his name over the line.
With eight goals to him name, Blues will be hoping that he doesn’t add to his tally this weekend and Michael Morrison and Robinson will definitely have their hands full all afternoon.
Blues and Ipswich fans, what do you make of this weeks five-a-side team? Could it be improved? Let us know in the comment section down below!
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