Birmingham City vs Southampton team news: Venus and Martin name starting lineups in Championship

Mark Venus and Russell Martin have named their respective starting lineups and substitutes ahead of this afternoon's Sky Bet Championship clash between Birmingham City and Southampton at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park.

Blues, albeit against a tough opposition, will be desperate for a win this afternoon to move further away from the relegation zone. Saints, meanwhile, are eager to close the gap to the automatic promotion spots.

Venus has opted for Lee Buchanan and Emanuel Aiwu in defence today, with Ethan Laird and captain Dion Sanderson joining them in a back four. Paik Seung-ho and Andre Dozzell partner one another in midfield.

Birmingham vs Southampton lineups

Blues XI: Ruddy (GK); Laird, Aiwu, Sanderson, Buchanan; Paik, Dozzell; James, Bacuna, Miyoshi; Stansfield.

Blues subs: Etheridge (GK), T. Roberts, Hogan, Jutkiewicz, Drameh, Dembele, Pritchard, Sunjic, Hall.

Saints XI: Bazunu (GK); Stephens, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Manning; Downes, Smallbone, S. Armstrong; Brooks, A. Armstrong, Adams.

Saints subs: Lumley (GK), Bree, Charles, Rothwell, Aribo, Dibling, Edozie, Kamaldeen, Mara.