Birmingham City are at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park for the penultimate time this season as they take on Coventry City in the Sky Bet Championship.
Blues, condemned to a 1-0 defeat by Cardiff City midweek, must bounce back after plummeting to 23rd in the league standings. It was a mightily disappointing display on home soil and Gary Rowett’s side are now staring relegation in the face.
Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield Town are both one point above but Birmingham have a superior goal difference. Blues and the Terriers look likely to play out one of the most important games of the season as they play one another on April 27, too.
With defensive incompetence and attacking indecisiveness aplenty, something simply has to change in Blues’ XI. Rowett has an issue, though, as there aren’t valid centre-back options to rotate in and most forwards are lacking confidence.
Including a role change for Jordan James and a benching for a usually important player, here’s the Birmingham lineup we predict will take on Coventry.
9. RW: Koji Miyoshi
Miyoshi was one of very few who showed desire against Cardiff and deserves to keep starting. Juninho Bacuna, meanwhile, is benched after two disappointing performances. | Getty Images
10. LW: Jordan James
James was subbed off early against Cardiff despite being one of the better performers. He could move out wide to allow Pritchard to come in. | Getty Images
11. ST: Jay Stansfield
The 21-year-old is naturally a number 10 but is one of the best finishers at the club, as proven by two goals in his last three games. | Getty Images