Birmingham City vs Cardiff City: Starting lineups confirmed for Valentine’s Day clash

With kick-off fast approaching for Birmingham City vs Cardiff City in the Sky Bet Championship, both teams have announced their starting lineups and substitutes. Taking place at St Andrew’s at 7.45pm on Valentine’s Day, love is certainly in the air for football in the English second tier, but the question is – which side will get supporters’ pulses raising the most this evening?

Heading into the clash, Blues are the team in better form with two successive league wins. First coming from behind to beat Swansea City 4-3 away from home 10 days ago, and then getting one over local rivals West Bromwich Albion in a glorious 2-0 home win, John Eustace’s team are well back in form. Cardiff, meanwhile, are without a win in their last five.

It looks like a back four for Birmingham again tonight as Eustace makes just one change from the victory against the Baggies. Harlee Dean comes in for his first start since November, replacing Kevin Long who misses out completely.

Birmingham City vs Cardiff City starting lineups and subs

Birmingham City starting XI vs Cardiff City: Ruddy (GK); Colin, Sanderson, Dean, Trusty; Bielik, Hannibal, Bacuna, Chong; Jutkiewicz, Hogan.

Birmingham City substitutes vs Cardiff City: Etheridge (GK), Friend, Longelo, James, Gardner, Hall, Deeney.

Cardiff City starting XI vs Birmingham City: Allsop (GK), Romeo, Kipre, McGuinness, Ng, O’Dowda, Sawyers, Wintle, Rimomhota, Etete, Kaba.

Cardiff City substitutes vs Birmingham City: Alnwick (GK), Simpson, Ralls, Ojo, Philogene, Robinson, Wickham.