Birmingham City vs Barnsley preview: What Blues can expect from Saturday’s Championship strugglers

Birmingham City might not be having the greatest season on the pitch this year but Saturday’s opponents are having it even worse.

Currently bottom of the Championship with just two wins and 14 points to their name, Barnsley look all but destined for League One.

Blues are on a dreadful run of form which sees them without a win in eight but whom better to play at this moment in time to try and stop the rot than Barnsley?

The Tykes haven’t registered a victory in the league since the beginning of November - a run which has seen Derby County surpass them despite the Rams suffering an 18 point deduction.

And if things weren’t looking bleak enough for Saturday’s visitors - as of Thursday they only had 14 senior players available in training due to a mixture of injuries and covid related troubles.

The biggest challenge this poses to the Blues on Saturday is that Barnsley simply have nothing to lose. Every game is now a must win.

For a view of what to expect from tomorrow’s opponents in more detail, we’ve spoken to the sports editor of the Barnsley Chronicle, Doug O’Kane who describes the results from the season so far as ‘disastrous.’

What’s gone wrong at Barnsley this season?

Many things, but I will try to summarise the key points. They lost an extremely successful manager Valerien Ismael, captain Alex Mowatt and star striker Daryl Dike - all of whom were not replaced well at all, with head coach Markus Schopp a poor appointment and he was sacked after winning one of 16.

About ten backroom staff left the club last summer including the chief executive whose replacement didn’t arrive until after the transfer window, in which they signed seven players who have all struggled to make an impact or even play regularly.

They are lacking in experience, especially in central midfield. They changed from Ismael’s direct approach to a possession-based style, which they believe will allow them to sell players for more money, but the results on the pitch have been disastrous.

They have been unlucky with key injuries but also most players’ performances have dipped from last season.

Birmingham are without a victory in eight - is this a game you’re looking at as a must win?

Every game is must-win for Barnsley at the moment. They need to start a run of good form very soon if they are to have any chance of staying up.

But, from what I hear from the club this week, they are not really looking at the bigger picture of survival and more just getting a team back on the pitch after a Covid outbreak and winning a league game for the first time under Poya Asbaghi.

Danger man for Blues to look out for?

Carlton Morris has four goals in his last five games. With captain and top-scorer Cauley Woodrow out for months after knee surgery, Morris is the main goal threat. He missed three months with a knee problem earlier in the season but is a real livewire who likes to take players on, link play and also is a good finisher.

Team news from the Barnsley end?

Woodrow and Aapo Halme are out with long-term injuries. Poland centre-back Michal Helik has been out with a thigh problem but could return. A few others have knocks while they have been down to ten players due to Covid-19 cases but were up to 14 by Wednesday.

Predicted line-up (4-2-3-1): Collins; Brittain, Helik, Andersen, Kitching; Gomes, Palmer; Cole, Styles, Morris; Iseka

Score prediction: 1-1

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