Birmingham City are in action for the penultimate time this season as they take on Huddersfield Town away in a huge Championship relegation battle six-pointer.
Blues head into the final two matches without control of their fate following last weekend’s results. A thoroughly disappointing 0-0 draw at Rotherham United gave direct rivals an open-goal opportunity and Sheffield Wednesday took it emphatically, beating Blackburn Rovers 3-1 to move out of the drop zone.
Wednesday, in 21st, are on 47 points while Birmingham are on 46 but with a 13 superior goal difference. Huddersfield, meanwhile, know only a victory will realistically be enough this weekend as they are lagging behind on 44 points. The Terriers’ goal difference is 15 inferior to that of Blues and two worse than Wednesday’s.
Gary Rowett came in with eight games to go in an effort to steady the ship and avoid any final-day drama. As it’s turned out, the manager has managed two wins and one win in six fixtures to date, totting up seven points out of 18. That’s not an awful return but you’ve got to feel three points is the bare minimum this weekend.
Including the axing of an uninspiring attacker and the addition of a player who taunted the same opposition in October, here’s the Birmingham lineup we predict will take on Huddersfield.
1. GK: John Ruddy
Ruddy remains between the sticks for the last two games of the season but looks likely to depart once it’s wrapped up.
2. RB: Ethan Laird
Laird has locked down the right-back spot ahead of Cody Drameh recently. We expect that to continue.
3. CB: Marc Roberts
The 33-year-old’s experience and aerial prowess make him a sensible pick against a tall and physical Huddersfield outfit.
4. CB: Dion Sanderson
Sanderson was stripped of the captaincy against Rotherham for an off-the-field matter. If this wasn’t such a vital fixture, he’d probably be dropped.