Big Match Preview: Birmingham City away

Friday, August 11th 2017

City are in action on the road for the first time this season as they travel to St Andrew's tomorrow (3pm).

Lee Johnson's side have been in sparkling form on home soil, defeating Barnsley 3-1 in their Sky Bet Championship opener before dispatching Plymouth Argyle with a five-star display in the Carabao Cup.

Here's a look at tomorrow's opponents.

FACTFILE

Formed 1875
Nickname Blues
Website www.bcfc.com
Twitter @BCFC
Ground St Andrew's
Capacity 29,409

Honours
Second Division 1892/93, 1920/21, 1947/48, 1954/55
Division Two 1994/95
Division Two play-off winners 2001/02
League Cup 1962/63, 2010/11
EFL Trophy 1990/91, 1994/95
Birmingham Senior Cup 1904/05
Football League South (wartime) 1945/46

Last season
League finish 19th in Championship
FA Cup Third round, lost to Newcastle United
EFL Cup First round, lost to Oxford United
Top scorer Lukas Jutkiewicz, 12 goals
Player of the Year David Davis
Average attendance 18,717

HOW DID THEY GET HERE?

Birmingham had to win at Ashton Gate on the final day of last season to preserve their place in the Sky Bet Championship.

Victories for Nottingham Forest and Blackburn Rovers meant Blues had to hang on to the 16th-minute lead given to them by Che Adams.

But Harry Redknapp’s men stood firm in the face of heavy late pressure to spark scenes of jubilation and relief from the away team at full time.

This season, Birmingham opened with a 1-0 defeat at Ipswich Town before hammering Crawley Town 5-1 in the Carabao Cup, inspired by an Adams hat-trick.

Harry Redknapp celebrated keeping Birmingham in the Championship at Ashton Gate last season

MEET THE GAFFER: HARRY REDKNAPP

A man boasting a distinguished track record, Redknapp enjoyed notable success in charge of Bournemouth, West Ham United, Portsmouth and Tottenham Hotspur.

Now 70 years of age, he was initially appointed on a three-match mission to keep Birmingham in the Championship.

He won two of those, including once at City’s expense, to land the job permanently.

Redknapp has been left frustrated in his attempts to sign Aden Flint and Joe Bryan this summer.

Che Adams scored a hat-trick against Crawley Town in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday

STAR MAN: CHE ADAMS

Scorer of Birmingham’s last and most important goal of 2016/17, Adams was the match-winner at Ashton Gate in May.

Signed from Sheffield United last summer, he scored seven goals in his debut campaign at St Andrew’s.

His status as a major threat was enhanced by a midweek hat-trick as Blues thumped Crawley Town 5-1 in the Carabao Cup.

The lively forward will have his sights set on reaching double figures in the Sky Bet Championship for the first time this season.

Stephen Pearson opened the scoring for City at St Andrew's in 2012

MEMORABLE MEETING: 2011/12

BIRMINGHAM CITY 2-2 BRISTOL CITY
Pearson 21, Stead 33; King 44, Zigic 61

A resurgent City side were inching closer to Championship survival after priceless back-to-back wins over Easter, and played some sparkling football in the first half at St Andrew’s.

Stephen Pearson opened the scoring in the first half at the end of a superb team move, before Jon Stead’s shot on the turn flew into the top corner to double the lead.

City were sitting pretty, but Marlon King’s goal back just before the interval was the catalyst for a swing in momentum.

Lanky Serbian Nikola Zigic tapped in a low cross from Chris Burke to ensure a share of the spoils, but City were a point closer to their target.

Birmingham: Doyle; Ramage, Davies, Caldwell, Murphy; Burke, Fahey (Gomis 36), Mutch, Townsend (Redmond, 76); King, Zigic (E Huseklepp, 89). Subs not used: Ibanez, Elliott.

City: Gerken; Carey, Amougou, Fontaine, Foster; Skuse, Cisse (Ephraim, 78), Woolford (Kilkenny, 89), Pearson; Stead (Adomah 73) Wood. Subs not used: James, Bolasie.

Attendance: 23,230.