Birmingham City vs Bradford City team news: Lineups named for Vertu Trophy semi-final

Kick-off is fast approaching for tonight’s highly-anticipated Vertu Trophy clash at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park.

Chris Davies and Graham Alexander have named their starting lineups and substitutes for the game, with both teams looking strong as they seek to earn a place in the Vertu Trophy final.

Not only is the chance of winning silverware just one victory away but as is the opportunity to play at Wembley Stadium. Birmingham haven’t competed under the famous arch since their League Cup triumph in 2011, so the club and fans are desperate to put that barren spell to an end.

Davies has opted for just two changes from the starting XI that beat Charlton Athletic 1-0 at the weekend, with Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Scott Wright coming in for Ethan Laird and Keshi Anderson. Rather crucially, Ryan Allsop starts between the sticks ahead of Bailey Peacock-Farrell, who has otherwise been the cup goalkeeper this season.

Gardner-Hickman’s return from injury sees the former West Bromwich Albion man at right-back, alongside Christoph Klarer, Ben Davies and Alex Cochrane in a flat four. Paik Seung-ho and Tomoki Iwata pair one another in midfield, while Kieran Dowell, Willum Willumsson and Scott Wright will be linking up just behind sole striker Jay Stansfield.

Bradford, meanwhile, have swapped out four of their starters from the 0-0 League Two draw with Newport County. The Bantams have opted for a few fresh legs and are likely to set up in a 3-4-2-1 formation. Without further ado, here are the two teams in full.

Birmingham vs Bradford lineups

Blues XI: Allsop (GK); Gardner-Hickman, Klarer, Davies, Cochrane; Paik, Iwata; Dowell, Willumsson, Wright; Stansfield.

Blues subs: Peacock-Farrell (GK), Laird, Hanley, Bielik, Anderson, Dykes, May.

Bradford XI: S. Walker (GK), Baldwin, Crichlow, Shepherd; Halliday, Smallwood, Sarcevic, Wright; Pointon, Pattison, J. Walker.

Bradford subs: Hilton (GK), Oduor, Hilton, Byrne, Huntington, Johnson, Benn, Ibbitson.