Birmingham City are in Sky Bet Championship action for the final time before Christmas as they travel to face Plymouth Argyle on Saturday afternoon. Wayne Rooney and his players will be eager to gift Bluenoses an early present in the form of a win and a rise up the table.
Blues won their last away fixture – at Cardiff City – and then impressed going forward during the 3-2 defeat to Championship leaders Leicester City on Monday night. That loss was hard to take as Birmingham gave it a good go but the Foxes were ultimately too strong on the transition.
Although there were no points earned, plenty of positives will have been taken from that performance ahead of this next test. It's a good time to play Plymouth as they will be shaken by the news of the week – head coach of two years Steven Schumacher jumping ship for the dugout at Stoke City.
Argyle are now managerless ahead of the weekend, with first-team coach Kevin Nancekivell set to step in on the touchline. Birmingham will be eager to take advantage of the situation but must still show plenty of respect to Plymouth. With that in mind, here's the starting lineup we think Rooney will choose at Home Park Stadium.
1. GK: John Ruddy
Ruddy didn’t have his best game as Blues lost 3-2 to Leicester but he was up against some of the division’s best players, after all.
2. RB: Emanuel Aiwu
Aiwu has had to fill in at right-back and has looked a little rash but Drameh, who has missed the last couple of weeks with an ankle injury, is unlikely to be risked.
3. CB: Dion Sanderson
The skipper has been in fine form over the last couple of weeks and will be eager to give Blues fans something to cheer before Christmas.
4. Roberts has partnered Sanderson recently and done a good job in doing so, especially as an aerial presence.
Roberts has partnered Sanderson recently and done a good job in doing so, especially as an aerial presence.