‘Scintillating’ winger starts as Chris Davies makes harsh benching - Birmingham City predicted XI vs Stevenage

Birmingham City are on home soil again as they play host to Stevenage at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park on Tuesday evening.

Blues bounced back from their defeat to Bolton Wanderers - their loss first in 19 League One matches - with a narrow 1-0 win over Lincoln City at the weekend. Chris Davies will now be spurring his side on to build on that and in turn extend the advantage at the summit of the league standings.

Stevenage, currently 12 points outside the top six, must win most of their matches remaining if they are to have any chance of play-off football. They’ll still be hopeful they can qualify, though, and so there’s potential for Alex Revell’s side to cause an upset.

Davies will no doubt take the Boro very seriously and he’s bound to name a strong lineup as a result. Most positions pick themselves but there are a few dilemmas, notably at right-back and in attacking midfield.

Birmingham City predicted lineup vs Stevenage

Without further ado, here’s the starting XI we reckon Davies will name against the Boro.

GK - Ryan Allsop: Back in the team on Saturday following a short spell on the sidelines through injury, Allsop will expect to carry on between the sticks ahead of Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

RB - Taylor Gardner-Hickman: Preferred at right-back to Krystian Bielik in Ethan Laird’s absence, Gardner-Hickman’s versatility will likely be called upon here.

CB - Christoph Klarer: Immensely consistent this campaign, Klarer rarely ever drops below a seven out of 10. He’ll be a guaranteed starter next season too.

CB - Ben Davies: The manager’s namesake has been sensational, forming a formidable partnership with Klarer. It’ll be interesting to see whether Blues sign him permanently or not.

LB - Alex Cochrane: He’s had to play a lot of football this season with Lee Buchanan out with two long-term injuries but Cochrane has adjusted superbly, locking down the left-back spot.

CM - Tomoki Iwata: Arguably good enough to fit in any Championship midfield, Iwata has been one of Birmingham’s star men this term. There’s no displacing him.

CM - Paik Seung-ho: Paik, who signed a new deal in October following interest from Sheffield United and Leeds United, loves playing alongside Iwata in a midfield double pivot.

RW - Willum Willumsson: The Iceland nternational was benched against Lincoln but should rotate back in here, especially with other changes in attacking midfield.

CAM - Kieran Dowell: A superb winter signing on loan from Rangers, Dowell was the winning goalscorer last time out and he’s been a real creative force just in behind the striker.

LW - Keshi Anderson: Now back from his hamstring injury, Anderson should head back into the XI. The winger has been in scintillating form just off the left this campaign.

ST - Jay Stansfield: Stanno returned off the bench against Bolton and then started last time out. He should continue in the XI as Alfie May is without a goal in his last 14 appearances.

In other news, Blues are set for a game-changing cash boost amid interest from Chelsea in a midfielder.