Birmingham City

Tottenham Hotspur V Birmingham City

Date & Kick-Off: Sunday, 22 May 2011 – 16:00 (GMT)
Venue: White Hart Lane
TV Coverage: Sky Sports HD2

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Preview

It wasn’t so long ago that they were crowned 2010/2011 Carling Cup winners, so it is some statement to say that Sunday’s crunch clash with Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane is without doubt the biggest match of the season for Birmingham City, who head into the final day knowing even victory may not keep them up.

The latter just about sums up how precarious Birmingham’s position down near the foot of the table is heading into ‘Survival Sunday’. The Blues will begin the day down in 17th, a single place above the relegation places but level on points, only with a superior goal difference, to Wigan and Blackpool who are 19th and 18th respectively. So, in theory, they could stay up even with defeat, but the same also applies should they record only their second Premiership win at White Hart Lane in seven visits.

In the opinion of supporters, it beggars belief that Birmingham are in such a mess as we approach the climax to another thoroughly entertaining Premiership season, especially not after the scenes at Wembley back in February.

Birmingham’s capture of the Carling Cup, upsetting Arsenal in the final to prevail against all the odds, was supposed to be a springboard, the catalyst for a strong finish to the season which would see the Blues comfortably avoid relegation, as they did with consummate ease last term. Unfortunately, it hasn’t panned out as planned. Far from it. In fact, they find themselves in a position where they have to better any number of side’s results on the final day if they’re to be assured of Premiership football next season, and they’ll be hard-pressed to take anything from Sunday’s fixture.

Not only are Birmingham in dire straights with their form, having lost four of their last five, key players will be missing – Scott Dann and Nikola Zigic among them, possibly even Ben Foster – while their record away to Tottenham during the Premier League era will only further dampen the spirits of the supporters; A 3-2 success back in December 2008 is Birmingham’s solitary triumph away to Spurs in the Premiership in six attempts.

Furthermore, their opponents on an eagerly-anticipated final day of the 2010/2011 season are unlike many others, and that’s because they actually have something to play for.

No one in their right mind at Tottenham actually wants Europa League football next season, manager Harry Redknapp has admitted as much, but avoiding the damn thing could prove futile. Even were Spurs to finish below Liverpool in the table, who are one-point behind in sixth with fifth-place the only position worthy of an entry into Europe’s second tier competition, Redknapp’s little angels could yet turn out in it regardless via the Fair Play league. That would be disastrous for a club Harry strongly believes has all the fundamentals to challenge for the Premiership title next season, as it would mean arriving back to training earlier than all their rivals in order to contest two two-legged ties before even making the draw for the Europe League proper.

So there shouldn’t be any half-measures from Tottenham, not if Harry has anything to do with it, which is good news for those embroiled in a relegation battle but heartbreaking for Alex McLeish and Birmingham, who haven’t looked capable of beating anyone based on recent form, let alone a team boasting as much talent and attacking quality as Tottenham. Then again, there’s only so much the Spurs boss can do, even with half-a-dozen supremely gifted players at his disposal.

Last week’s stunning win at Anfield was only Tottenham’s second in eleven league games, their first in six, while it’s been clear for some time now that an arduous campaign of competing on two important fronts – the league and in the Champions League, which they’ve established a taste for and are now not interested in settling for the ‘uncool’ Europa League – has caught up with the players, physically and mentally, and that some valueable respite is very much needed in order for his players to recharge their batteries ahead of another hopefully exciting and promising campaign.

So the sooner Harry sends his players off on their summer holidays the better, as far as he’s concerned. In the meantime, though, Spurs need to do their bit – by finishing fifth – as to avoid the worst case of scenario of resuming first-team training earlier than planned. Victory over Birmingham would sweeten the deal, regardless of what Liverpool do elsewhere at Aston Villa.

So will it come down to whose needs are greater? If so, Birmingham would surely win hands down. But it isn’t as straightforward as that. Will we even notice who the hungrier side should be? It should be Birmingham, however Alex McLeish’s men have lost their way ever since clinching the Carling Cup, some believe since Scott Dann’s injury, and have lacked the cohesion and togetherness which made them such a formidable opponent last season. I genuinely fear for Birmingham, as do most of their own fans.

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Form

Tottenham – DLDLW (Tottenham 2-2 West Brom, Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham, Tottenham 1-1 Blackpool, Man City 1-0 Tottenham, Liverpool 0-2 Tottenham)

Birmingham – LLDLL (Chelsea 3-1 Birmingham, Liverpool 5-0 Birmingham, Birmingham 1-1 Wolves, Newcastle 2-1 Birmingham, Birmingham 0-2 Fulham)

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Head-to-Head (Premiership)

Tottenham wins: 6
Draws: 4
Birmingham wins: 3

Last 5 Seasons

2010/2011: Birmingham 1-1 Tottenham
2009/2010: Birmingham 1-1 Tottenham
2009/2010: Tottenham 2-1 Birmingham
2007/2008: Birmingham 4-1 Tottenham
2007/2008: Tottenham 2-3 Birmingham

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Streaks & Trends

Tottenham have won five of the six Premiership encounters with Birmingham at White Hart Lane (W5 D0 L1), with Birmingham’s one and only triumph in north London coming back in December 2007.

Spurs have also scored precisely two goals on four occasions at home to Birmingham in the Premier League.

A 2-0 defeat of Liverpool at Anfield ended a five-match winless run for Tottenham, who have drawn four of their last five at White Hart Lane, including each of their last three.

Birmingham have lost four and won none of their last five, shipping thirteen goals during this dour spell.

The Blues have also collected just one miserly point from away fixtures against the top-six sides this season (Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City & Man Utd), managing just two goals themselves but conceding an alarming fifteen in return.

Alex McLeish‘s men have won only two of eighteen away from home this season (W2 D7 L9), and are without an away win for six games.

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Match Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur to WIN – 1.57 BetFred

Birmingham built up a formidable reputation last term for being incredibly well-organised, hard-working and for having this togetherness in camp which other teams could only dream of. All of those characteristics have gone array in 2011 – they’ll go into Sunday’s pivotal game without a win in five, four of which were losses. So hardly the form to inspire the masses, is it?

The Blues’ cause isn’t helped by Tottenham’s necessity to win. The last thing Harry Redknapp needs is to call back his players from their summer holidays to contest a couple of Europa League qualifiers. So he’ll be drilling it into his players the importance of registering maximum points from Sunday’s contest, though he’ll also want to repay the fans for their support over a long and exhausting campaign with a champagne performance on the final day.

No let-up from Spurs then and if their big names come to the fore, I see only one outcome – a comfortable victory for the hosts, who have reigned supreme in five of the previous six encounters with the Blues at White Hart Lane in the Premier League.

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Match Odds

Tottenham Hotspur – 1.57 BetFred
Draw – 4.33 VictorChandler
Birmingham City – 6.50 Bet365

Newcastle United V Birmingham City

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 7 May 2011 – 15:00 (GMT)
Venue: St James Park

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Preview

Despite failing to win any of their previous four matches, Newcastle should be exempt from relegation now that they’ve surpassed the 40-point milestone with the Magpies even harbouring ambitions of a top-half finish. Victory over a side in just as dismal form as themselves would do their top-ten credentials the world of good, though Saturday’s opponents Birmingham still find themselves in the relegation mire and will be pushing the hosts all the way at St James’ seeking the win which would rubber-stamp their inclusion in next season’s Barclay’s Premier League.

The Blues have amassed 39-points from their 35 Premiership fixtures thus far and are so close to survival that they can almost reach out and touch it. That said, there is only four-points separating them and third from bottom Wigan. A drastic weekend in which they lose and those below them pick up points would dramatically increase the pressure on Alex McLeish and his team, who haven’t secured maximum points in an away fixture since 6 February, when beating a now rock-bottom West Ham 1-0 at Upton Park. Since then, they’ve gone on to record two draws and three defeats and will arrive on Tyneside still scarred by back-to-back emphatic away losses away at Chelsea (3-1) and Liverpool (5-0).

To make matters a whole lot worse for Blues manager Alex McLeish, the Scot only has one fit available striker – Cameron Jerome, who has scored just three times in 2010/2011 – while arguably their stand-out player of the season, Craig Gardner, who has been just as influential in the Birmingham midfield as Ben Foster has between the sticks, will begin a two-match ban following his two bookable offences in the disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Wolves last Sunday.

At least the Birmingham chief can confide in his opposite number this weekend, as both Alex McLeish and Alan Pardew have experienced heavy defeats at the hands of Liverpool recently. Birmingham were obliterated at Anfield just two weeks ago while Newcastle, despite glimpses of resilience and the odd moment of defiance, were eventually rolled over. The difference in the performances however was that Newcastle actually had a bit of fight in them, some resistance against an improving and very impressive of late Liverpool side. That character you so regularly associate with one of McLeish’s team has been non-existent in recent weeks, and that’s a worry ahead of Saturday’s match-up, in a fixture where Birmingham’s record during the Premier League era is nasty!

Over the years, these two have contested thirteen Premiership matches, six of which went the way of the Magpies, whom ran out comfortable 2-0 winners when the two renew acquaintances at St Andrews back in February. As for Birmingham, they’ve only beaten Newcastle twice in the Premier League, though both were on Tyneside and their most recent, back in 2007, was a resounding 5-1 victory. As impressive as the latter score is, it doesn’t have any baring on this weekend’s clash.

Now we’re approaching the end of this preview and next up will be my match prediction, and I have to say I cannot steer myself away from the home side. At around EVENS, they aren’t the worst price you’ll see this weekend, while their half-decent stats combine nicely with Birmingham’s, which are horrific. The Blues struggle to score goals, have only won a couple of matches on their travels this season and will come face-to-face with a spirited Newcastle who, more times than not, thrive off their passionate home support at St James’ Park.

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Form & Last Result

Newcastle – WLDDL (Newcastle 4-1 Wolves, Aston Villa 1-0 Newcastle, Newcastle 0-0 Man Utd, Blackpool 1-1 Newcastle, Liverpool 3-0 Newcastle)

Comprehensively beaten by Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield last Sunday, Newcastle are targeting a return to winning ways this Saturday after four games without securing maximum points. The Magpies, though, have only tasted defeat once at St James’ in 2011 (1/7) and should fancy their chances of ending their barren spell up against a Birmingham side they comfortably beat 2-0 at St Andrews back in February.

Birmingham – DWLLD (Blackburn 1-1 Birmingham, Birmingham 2-0 Sunderland, Chelsea 3-1 Birmingham, Liverpool 5-0 Birmingham, Birmingham 1-1 Wolves)

A feisty Midlands derby between Birmingham and Wolves ended all-square, 1-1, that despite Birmingham spending much of the game down to ten-men. Craig Gardner was shown a red card for two bookable offences, the latter for diving, and will now miss Saturday’s trip to Tyneside as a result. Sebastian Larsson with the goal for Birmingham, cancelling out Steven Fletcher’s opener for Wolves, after the striker was brought down by Ben Foster, the Blues keeper who had one of his poorest games of the season.

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Head-to-Head (Premiership)

Newcastle wins: 6
Draws: 5
Birmingham wins: 2

Last 5 Seasons

2010/2011: Birmingham 0-2 Newcastle
2007/2008: Birmingham 1-1 Newcastle
2007/2008: Newcastle 2-1 Birmingham
2006/2007: Newcastle 1-5 Birmingham
2006/2007: Birmingham 2-2 Newcastle

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Match Prediction: Newcastle United to WIN – 2.00 Coral

When it all clicks at the back, Birmingham can be a thorn in anyone’s side. Unfortunately, their defence hasn’t been running like a well-oiled machine for some time, with their usually reliable Ben Foster in goal the main culprit. The former Manchester United goalie had a stinker at St Andrews last weekend, when conceding a penalty and making several rash and abrasive decisions which could have cost his team what turned out to be a valuable point, considering they spent much of the game with a numerical disadvantage.

The bare facts paint a rather distasteful picture of Birmingham, who have been poor on the whole on their travels, suspect at the back of late and will begin proceedings with a team severely lacking in goal potential.

Some of Newcastle’s vintage football this season has come at St James’ and while I doubt they’ll run a riot on Saturday, I do rate their chances of consolidating their Premiership status with a hard-fought victory.

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Value Bets

Draw @ 3.50 Boylesports

Only three other teams have drawn more matches at home this season than Newcastle (7), while nobody has drawn more matches collectively that Birmingham (15).

Both Teams to Score @ 1.83 SkyBet

Both teams have scored in 7 of the 13 Premiership encounters between the two, including four of the previous five.

Kevin Nolan First Goalscorer @ 7.00 PaddyPower (General)

The Newcastle captain has opened the scoring on five separate occasions at St James’ this season.

Sebastian Larsson to Score @ 7.00 888Sport (888 Bet)

The want-a-way Swede has scored three of Birmingham’s last four goals and is deadly from free-kicks.

Birmingham to Score Exactly 1 Goal @ 2.50 PaddyPower

The Blues have scored precisely one goal in five of their last six away games, eight overall away from home.

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Match Odds

Newcastle United – 2.00 Coral
Draw – 3.50 Boylesports
Birmingham City – 4.33 Totesport

Liverpool V Birmingham City

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 23 April 2011 – 15:00 (GMT)
Venue: Anfield

There aren’t too many teams in the country who can claim they’ve gotten the better of one of the most decorated clubs in Europe, let alone England, however Birmingham City certainly can. The Blues have been Liverpool’s nemesis during the Premier League era and will set out to protect their incredible nine-match unbeaten league run against the Reds at Anfield on Saturday, though they’ll be hard-pressed to get any sort of result against a strong-finishing Liverpool.

Liverpool have endured a miserable time of things with Birmingham in recent games, who for one reason or another have all the characteristics to frustrate the 18-time English champions. The previous seven league meetings have ended up all-square, including last season’s Anfield clash, which finished 2-2, and it is now down to Kop hero Kenny Dalglish to break Birmingham’s stranglehold over the Reds.

Dalglish would appear the right man for the job, though, as the Liverpool manager has proved inspirational during his three-month spell as caretaker manager, so much so that fans are waiting with baited breath to hear that the club icon has put ink to paper on a new deal. Not only are fans ecstatic to see a trusted face in the dug-out, the brand of football Liverpool now play is far more entertaining than under the previous regime, while continuity in results has also improved no end.

The club are even back challenging for European football again, although it would appear their revival in fortunes has come too late in the day. Fifth-placed Tottenham are five-points ahead of the Reds in the table in this race for Europa League football next season, but crucially Spurs also have a game in hand meaning Liverpool don’t really have any concrete targets that will keep them interested until the final day of the season.

The above said, don’t be fooled into thinking the players already have one eye on their summer vacations. A demolition job of Manchester City in their last Anfield encounter was the firmest message yet from Dalglish and his charges that they’re 100% focused on finishing the season like a steam train, which is exactly how they finished last Sunday’s extraordinary contest with Arsenal in north London.

A depleted Liverpool paid title-chasing Arsenal a visit at the Emirates Stadium looking to scupper the Gunners’ bid for silverware, and they did just that courtesy of one of the most gutsy and spirited performances I have seen from any team all season long. Two inexperienced teenage full-backs nor the absence of Steven Gerrard got in the way of Liverpool defying all the odds and spoiling Arsenal’s party, with Dirk Kuyt equalising from the spot in the 111th minute with the very last kick of the game to seal a memorable draw and a vital point, vital because it maintained the team’s positive run of form, with the Reds having now lost two of their previous twelve matches in the Premier League.

Meanwhile Birmingham’s most recent assignment was also a trip to London, though their fortunes were contrasting to that of their match day rivals. The Blues were blown away by a powerful and resurgent Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and that makes it four games without an away win for Birmingham, who have recorded just two league victories on their travels all season: W2 D7 L7. Still, as you can see by the amount of hard-fought points they’ve picked up, there aren’t too many sides as resilient and hard-working as Alex McLeish’s men, who always put in a shift at Anfield.

So can Liverpool put an end to this destructive pattern of results against the Blues? I’m extremely confident that they will, as for all Birmingham’s resilience and second to none organisation, Liverpool have been playing like a team possessed at Anfield of late, thumping Manchester United and Manchester City in their last two home clashes alone in an impressive seven-match unbeaten streak on Merseyside.

In Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez, Liverpool also have options going forward and a number methods for overcoming what is likely to be a heavily guarded Birmingham goal. Carroll is almost unplayable through the air while Suarez’s tricky with the ball at his feet will make him a constant threat whenever he’s in possession. Throw in an almost impenetrable defence, one which has conceded just two goals in 450 minutes of action at Anfield, and we should have a recipe for Liverpool success.

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Head-to-Head (Premier League)

Liverpool wins: 2
Draws: 8
Birmingham wins: 3

Last 5 Seasons

2010/2011: Birmingham 0-0 Liverpool
2009/2010: Birmingham 1-1 Liverpool
2009/2010: Liverpool 2-2 Birmingham
2007/2008: Birmingham 2-2 Liverpool
2007/2008: Liverpool 0-0 Birmingham

Streaks & Trends

The previous seven league meetings between the two sides have ended all-square: 0-0 x2, 1-1 x2 and 2-2 x3.

Liverpool’s last league victory over Birmingham was back in May 2004, with Birmingham edging the head-to-head with 3 wins to Liverpool’s miserly 2.

Anfield has become a fortress for Liverpool, the Reds having won five and lost none of their last seven home Premier League matches on Merseyside.

Pepe Reina has conceded just two goals in 450 minutes of football at Anfield in the league.

Birmingham have won only twice away from home all season: W2 D7 L6.

The Blues have scored exactly 1 goal in each of their last five away games.

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Betting Odds & Tips

Match Prediction: Liverpool to WIN – 1.50 Boylesports

Invariably Liverpool rise to the occasion for the high profile encounters but struggle against those who set up shop at Anfield. I genuinely believe they won’t encounter those same problems on Saturday against a Birmingham side who will look to defend for large periods, as a point from this fixture would be massive considering how formidable Liverpool’s form has been in recent weeks.

Kenny Dalglish is still shorn of several first-team players, including full-back Glen Johnson and captain Steve Gerrard, but the youngsters who have deputised have done so superbly. Jay Spearing in particular has been outstanding filling in for Steven Gerrard. But all around the park you have players bang-in-form; Spearing thriving off all the praise he’s been receiving while Dirk Kuyt simply can’t stop scoring of late and will be looking to build on his purple patch having notched up six goals in his last five league appearances.

Then we have this flourishing striking partnership of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez, who were too hot to handle for Manchester City last time out at Anfield, and in the pair of them – one almost unplayable through the air and the other a menace with the ball at his feet – Liverpool have those differing options in attack which they haven’t had in previous campaigns, campaigns where they would struggle to churn out priceless victories in similar fixtures. 

Liverpool brushed aside both Man Utd and Man City in their two most recent home assignments and I fully expect Birmingham to go the same way.

Value Bet: Luis Suarez First Goalscorer – 5.00 SkyBet

A little on the short side, however, I can guarantee that you’ll be getting value for money, as the Uruguayan simply cannot stand not scoring. Prolific in the Dutch Eredivisie with Ajax, Suarez was determined to get on the scoresheet at Arsenal last time out and ended up doing a little too much. But he’s a trier, and if Liverpool do score a couple on Saturday, and I suspect they will, then Suarez will no doubt be thereabouts.

Match Odds:

Liverpool – 1.50  Boylesports
Draw – 4.50 VictorChandler
Birmingham City – 8.50 VictorChandler

Chelsea V Birmingham City

Date & Kick-Off: Wednesday, 20 April 2011 – 19:45 (GMT)
Venue: Stamford Bridge

After morale-boosting wins at the weekend, Chelsea and Birmingham will meet at Stamford Bridge in high spirits both aiming to build on encouraging streaks – Chelsea are currently unbeaten in seven in the league whereas Birmingham are without defeat in their last three. However, understandably the bookies are favouring a seemingly rejuvenated Chelsea in a fixture which up until November of last year, when Birmingham secured their first ever Barclay’s Premier League victory over the Londoners at the fifteenth time of asking, they have dominated.

Apart from the fact Chelsea’s record is so formidable against Birmingham in the Premier League, the West Londoners are also, according to all the national newspapers, back in this title race. I’m not so sure. Eight-points currently separates Carlo Ancelotti’s Blues from Sir Alex’s Reds, which basically means that if Chelsea are to successfully defend their crown – against all the odds it would seem, as the 2009/2010 Premier League champions are a best-priced 15.00 (14/1) with Totesport to retain their crown – then they must win all six of their remaining league games. Even then favours elsewhere are needed, though encouragement can be had from the fact Chelsea are still to visit Old Trafford while United will travel to the Emirates to face Arsenal on 1 May.

While Chelsea have a clear incentive, don’t be fooled into thinking Birmingham have nothing to play for. Alex McLeish’s men may be unbeaten in their last three games – registering a healthy seven points following home wins over Bolton and Sunderland, as well as a creditable away draw with Blackburn – however they are by no means out of this relegation wood just yet and require one more victory from their remaining fixtures in order to quash any fear or anxiety regarding relegation back to the nPower Championship.

Birmingham may even feel that they hold all the aces, after it was they who came out on top when the two teams clashed at St Andrews back in November. However, back then Chelsea were in a right mess – although they still carved out numerous opportunities and should never have lost that game – and Wednesday’s outfit will be a different proposition altogether; a team who have now gone an impressive seven league games without defeat, winning five including three on the spin in London.

A hot topic of debate has been Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to revert back to the old and trusted 4-3-3 formation with Didier Drogba spearheading the attack instead of a misfiring Torres, who came closest yet to ending his torrid spell in front of goal when prodding into an empty net at the weekend only to see his effort ruled out for offside, as it worked a treat on Saturday as Chelsea stormed back from 1-0 down at The Hawthorns to overcome a confident, in-form West Brom 3-1 in the Midlands in eye-catching style. Momentum is so often key in title races, so I expect the Italian to stick rather than twist on this occasion, something he hasn’t done enough of in recent weeks.

David Luiz should also return to the back-four, that despite Alex’s return from injury. Ramires is the only doubt for Ancelotti ,with the Brazilian missing at the weekend with a muscular problem but should be available for Wednesday’s affair.

As for Birmingham, it would be no great surprise to see two banks of four try to protect Ben Foster’s clean sheet for as long as humanely possible. With Drogba playing as though he has a point to prove, Malouda and Kalou as well to some degree, as well as Lampard looking something like his former self on Saturday, a Birmingham clean sheet would appear a long-shot. And in terms of scoring past Chelsea shot-stopper Petr Cech, that too will prove a stiff ask for the visitors who have failed to score in nine of their fifteen Premier League meetings with the west London club. 

Alex McLeish is still without long-term absentee Scott Dann while forward duo Obafemi Martins and Nikola Zigic are unlikely to make the trip to Stamford Bridge because of groin problems.

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Head-to-Head (Premier League)

Chelsea wins: 7
Draws: 5
Birmingham wins: 1

Last 5 Seasons

2010/2011: Birmingham 1-0 Chelsea
2009/2010: Chelsea 3-0 Birmingham
2009/2010: Birmingham 0-0 Chelsea
2007/2008: Birmingham 0-1 Chelsea
2007/2008: Chelsea 3-2 Birmingham

Streaks & Trends

Birmingham won their very first Premiership encounter with Chelsea at the fifteenth time of asking – midfielder Lee Bowyer scoring the only goal of the game when the two teams met at St Andrews back in November, 2010.

Birmingham have only ever scored two goals at home against Chelsea in the Premier League, and just five goals overall.

Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda has scored in both Stamford Bridge meetings with Birmingham.

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Betting Odds & Tips

Match Prediction: Chelsea to WIN – 1.22 WilliamHill

On their day, Birmingham can be a real nuisance to break down. Unfortunately, these ‘days’ of theirs tend only to occur at St Andrews. Away at Arsenal they were beaten 2-1 while their heaviest defeat of the season thus far came away at Old Trafford against Manchester United (5-0). To top it off, their record against Chelsea in the Premier League era is abysmal.

Chelsea shook off their Champions League cobwebs with a fine performance and victory at the weekend, comfortably beating West Brom 3-1 to extend their unbeaten run in the league to seven. Now they go in search of their fourth win on the spin at Stamford Bridge, one which would keep alive hopes of retaining their title. Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba both played on Saturday as though they had found a new lease of life, so hopefully Ancelotti names an unchanged team. If so, I don’t see Birmingham getting in their way of securing maximum points.

Value Bet: Frank Lampard & Didier Drogba both to score – 4.00 SkyBet

Match Odds:

Chelsea – 1.22 WilliamHill
Draw – 6.50 Bet365
Birmingham City – 17.00 VictorChandler

Birmingham City V Sunderland

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 16 April 2011 – 15:00 (GMT)
Venue: St Andrews

There are just three points separating Birmingham in 16th and Sunderland in 13th, so expect pundits and supporters alike to bring that old relegation six-pointer cliché out of the closet as two seriously out of form sides do battle for priceless points in the Midlands this weekend.

Birmingham are the slight favourites although by default in many ways, with a usually formidable St Andrews the venue for Saturday’s crunch clash – Alex McLeish’s men have collected 22 of their 35 points this season at home. The Blues, though, have only mustered one win from their last six league games – a 2-1 victory over Bolton in their most recent home game – but can at least take some encouragement from their current two-match unbeaten run.

Unfortunately for Sunderland manager Steve Bruce, the Black Cats boss doesn’t have a single positive to drawn upon for inspiration ahead of one of many pivotal fixtures between now and the end of the term. A 3-2 home reverse at the hands of West Brom last Saturday was Sunderland’s third defeat on the spin, and their seventh in an eight-match barren run which has seen the Wearsider’s go close to three months without celebrating a hard-fought win in the Premier League.

So, take your pick. Neither have outstanding credentials with Birmingham probably edging it on paper courtesy of home advantage, which could prove decisive considering Sunderland are without a win on their travels in four, failing to even score on their previous three outings.

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Birmingham City

League Position: 16th
League Form: LDLWD

Now three-points clear of the relegation places following an upturn in form which has seen them collect four points from their last two league games, Birmingham have at least put one foot in front of the other as they seek to extend their stay in the Premier League. That said, their late dash for survival could potentially be marred by injuries, with Blues manager Alex McLeish likely to be shorn of a host of key players for this weekend’s crunch encounter with fellow survival hopefuls Sunderland.

The Black Cats will arrive at St Andrews, where Birmingham’s record in the league this season is a healthy W5 D7 L4, in a disconcerting state having lost seven and won none of their previous eight games. It’s perhaps understandable then that Birmingham are treating this as if it’s their most important remaining fixture, as it’s certainly their easiest on paper.

Maximum points on Saturday against a side who are in dire shape at the minute would do Birmingham’s survival cause the power of good. Not only would the Blues rise several places up the standings, they would also move to within two points of that sought-after 40-point milestone, a haven for all those struggling to confirm their Premier League statuses.

In fairness, anything less than three points would be a turn up for the books considering how dismal the visiting team’s form is in comparison to Birmingham’s recent revival, with Alex McLeish’s men now unbeaten in their last two and were also 2-1 winners over Bolton last time out at St Andrews – Kevin Philips forced into the firing line from the off, and opening the scoring, at a time when the ranks are severely depleted.

Injuries would appear the only obstacle standing in the way of a Birmingham victory, with key players such as Curtis Davies, Martin Jiranek, Roger Johnson, David Bentley, Jean Beausejour, Obafemi Martins and Nikola Zigic all either carrying knocks or out injured altogether – the ever reliable centre-back Scott Dann has been ruled out for the rest of the season while there is still no sign of James McFadden’s return from a long-term knee problem.

Sunderland

League Position: 13th
League Form: LDLLL

Without a win in eight games but having also registered an alarming one point from a possible 24, Sunderland manager Steve Bruce is nevertheless remaining optimistic about his side’s chances of a strong finish to the season. In fact, the former Wigan and Birmingham chief has boldly claimed that a top-ten finish is the only target on the agenda, as survival should be a formality because of their lightweight run-in.

Sunderland are like most teams in that they have only six games left before the summer looms large, though that is where the similarities between them and their rivals ends, however.

No side in the Premier League has a more easier run-in than the Black Cats, although that’s probably just as well considering no team is in a more critical shape than Sunderland with regards to form. Steve Bruce’s men face home encounters with Wigan (20th), Fulham (11th) and Wolves (19th) before the season is out, as well as trips to Birmingham (16th), Bolton (8th) and West Ham (18th) on the final day of the season – though even this seemingly straight-forward run-in is likely to prove an uphill mountain for a side who have drawn one and lost seven of its last eight league games, not to mention failing to even score in half of those.

Bruce has citied untimely injuries and the severity of an excruciating recent schedule which seen them go toe-for-toe with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Man City and Tottenham since the beginning of February – with the irony being that their only point in over two months of football coming at the Emirates away to Arsenal, who are second in the table and pushing United all the way for the title.

Injuries are still a problem but no longer can the Sunderland boss lay all the blame at the high standard of  opponent, as it’s all downhill from this moment on, which is basically how we would describe Sunderland’s season in 2011 – a downhill decline!

Bruce, though, believes he can and will arrest a drastic slide starting with Saturday’s match-up with fifth-from-bottom Birmingham City at St Andrews, incidentally where Sunderland have a miserable Premier League record of W0 D1 L4.

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Head-to-Head (Premier League ONLY)

Birmingham wins: 5
Draws: 2
Sunderland wins: 2

Last 5 Seasons

2010/2011: Sunderland 2-2 Birmingham
2009/2010: Sunderland 3-1 Birmingham
2009/2010: Birmingham 2-1 Sunderland
2007/2008: Sunderland 2-0 Birmingham
2007/2008: Birmingham 2-2 Sunderland

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Betting Odds & Tips

Match Prediction: Draw – 3.30 PaddyPower

A seriously out of form Sunderland travel to St Andrews to face a severely depleted Birmingham.

Birmingham are renowned for being very difficult to beat at St Andrews, even more so when they play Sunderland, having won four and lost none of the previous five Premiership encounters in the Midlands, but could be without a host of key players.

Meanwhile, Sunderland are in an alarming rut which has seen them register just a solitary point from a possible 24 and lose three of their last four road trips, shipping ten goals in the process, not to mention failing to score on their travels in their last three.

No team has drawn more matches this season than Birmingham (14), while Sunderland aren’t too far behind on 11. Throw in a statistic like this match being a tussle between two of the league’s weakest attacks – Birmingham having plundered 31 goals in as many games, Sunderland 35 goals in 32 -  and the draw suddenly becomes the only worthwhile bet. You know it makes sense!

Value Bet: 0-0 Draw (Correct Score) – 9.00 SkyBet

Two of the league’s poorest attacks go head-to-head at St Andrews, with the draw looking a stunning piece of value. Even more alluring is the odds on a 0-0 scoreline. Neither have excelled in front of goal this season, with Birmingham having played out two 0-0 draws at home, Sunderland the three away from home.

Match Odds:

Birmingham City – 2.25 totesport
Draw – 3.30 PaddyPower
Sunderland – 3.60 BetFred

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Blackburn V Birmingham

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 9 April 2011 – 15:00 (GMT)
Venue: Ewood Park

Sat side-by-side in the table, you’d be naïve to think that this clash was anything but a six-pointer – especially as defeat for either party could be accompanied by a spell inside the bottom three.

Blackburn Rovers are without a win in their last seven following a hard-fought 0-0 draw at the Emirates with Arsenal last Saturday, but as impressive as that result was it hasn’t done a great deal to boost their precarious situation down near the foot of the table.

Alex McLeish’s Birmingham, meanwhile, handed their ailing survival cause a massive boost with their first win in the league for five games. The experienced Kevin Phillips opening the scoring for the Blues, helping his side to a much-needed 2-1 victory over Bolton at St Andrews.

So, it’s Birmingham who head into Saturday’s crunch clash with a spring in their step. However, not only is Blues manager Alex McLeish possibly missing a whole host of stars, Birmingham have never beaten Blackburn at Ewood Park in the Premier League (W0 D3 L3) and will be aiming to avoid a fourth consecutive 2-1 defeat to Rovers in Lancashire this Saturday.

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Blackburn

League Position: 14th
League Form: DLLDD

Brought in to bring some entertainment to Ewood Park, Steve Kean is still to get to grips with his role as manager of Blackburn Rovers. Sam Allardyce’s controversial successor has won just three of his fourteen league games in charge – and none of his last seven – and there is now growing speculation that the 43-year-old, who was only appointed manager just before Christmas, will soon be out of the job unless results dramatically improve.

As a direct result of their dismal stretch of form, having collected a miserly three points from a possible 21, Rovers have slid down the table at a rate of knots – this a club who let’s not forget were targeting a European finish as soon as Kean was confirmed as permanent boss at the beginning of the year on a two-year deal – and dreams of playing in the Europa League have quickly turned into nightmares of a relegation back to the dreaded Football League.

Blackburn, with seven games still to play, are just two points off the drop, but they do at least have the comfort of having more than enough fixtures left to save the day. Victory on Saturday, over a Birmingham side who only recently buried the hatchet on their bout of poor form, would move Kean’s men to within one more win of that sought-after 40-point milestone which normally ensures survival. So, while their run of form is worrying, it is still far too early to be getting downbeat, especially ahead of what could possibly be one of their biggest games of the season this weekend.

The Lancashire club have of course won the previous three meetings at Ewood Park, as we pointed out so kindly above, and is invariably where the majority of their league victories arise. Six of their nine league wins this season have come at home, and a seventh – one which would take them into double figures overall – would put some valuable breathing space between them and the fast-approaching relegation zone.

Birmingham

League Position: 15th
League Form: LLDLW

Having recently quelled a four-game winless run, Birmingham go in search of back-to-back victories which would put them within touching distance of another term in the Premier League. However, the Blues have previously never won a Premiership encounter at Ewood Park with Blackburn, in fact they have tasted in defeat in their last three visits to Lancashire and have won just twice away from home all season. A certainty then.

The levels of anxiety around Birmingham were growing before the ever-green Kevin Phillips fired the club towards their first league win for a little over a month. The 37-year-old also maintained his trend of having scored in all four games he has started for Birmingham in the league this season, and he’s unlikely to score many more important as not only was his opening goal at St Andrews last Saturday the catalyst for a first league win since their Carling Cup triumph at Wembley back in late February, it may well be the catalyst for an end-of-season survival push which helps the club retains its top-flight status.

Birmingham are currently six-points shy of that magic 40-point marker which generally guarantees survival, although they are also just two-points off the bottom-three. On the plus side, the Blues will contest more fixtures than any of their relegation rivals, although that is unfortunately where the positives end from a Birmingham perspective.

Not only is their record on the road this season atrocious, having won only two of their fourteen away encounters, Blues manager Alex McLeish will once again be shorn of several first-team figures for Saturday’s crunch game in Lancashire. Scott Dann and James McFadden are highly unlikely to play again this season while Martin Jiranek, Alex Hleb, Obafemi Martins and Nikola Zigic are all doubtful.

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Head-to-Head (Premier League ONLY)

Blackburn wins: 5
Draws: 3
Birmingham wins: 5

Last 5 Seasons

2010/2011: Birmingham 2-1 Blackburn
2009/2010: Blackburn 2-1 Birmingham
2009/2010: Birmingham 2-1 Blackburn
2007/2008: Birmingham 4-1 Blackburn
2007/2008: Blackburn 2-1 Birmingham

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Betting

Match Prediction: Draw – 3.40 WilliamHill

Blackburn’s recent record at home to Birmingham may be impeccable, however Rovers are in dismal form right now and with Birmingham having recently put to bed their poor vein of form which had previously seen them fail to win a league game since clinching the Carling Cup at the end of February, I believe Alex McLeish’s so often resilient charges will do enough to ground out a worthy point from a difficult outing.

A lot could depend on who does and doesn’t recover in time for Alex McLeish, who is facing something of a striker-crisis at the minute. One forward he can ill-afford to be without however is Cameron Jerome, who has five goals in five Premier League appearances against Blackburn.

Value Bet: Cameron Jerome First Goalscorer – 9.00 VictorChandler

Match Odds:

Blackburn – 2.10 Boylesports
Draw – 3.40 WilliamHill
Birmingham – 4.20 VictorChandler

Birmingham V Bolton

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 2 April – 15:00 (GMT)
Venue: St Andrews

Birmingham

League Position: 19th
League Form: WLLDL

As memorable as their capture of the Carling Cup was, Birmingham have been paying a heavy price with their league form ever since. Blues boss Alex McLeish has admitted as such claiming his charges have relinquished every ounce of momentum they had heading into that final and has now urged his team to show some character in what is the club’s hour of need, the Scot having failed to mastermind a league win since 12 February.

Since their unforgettable day out at Wembley; beating Arsenal 2-1 in last month’s League Cup final, the Blues have failed to win a single game in the league (2) and were also dumped out of the FA Cup by this weekend’s opponents, just one round before another trip to Wembley was on the cards.

As a direct result of their slump in form, Birmingham now reside in 19th, just one place off the foot of the table but, encouragingly, only a point off safety meaning a positive return from this weekend’s clash with Bolton, preferrably in the form of a win, which would go some way to avenging their bitter FA Cup Sixth Round defeat, could, depending on how others in close proximity fare elsewhere, lift the club jump out of the dreaded relegation zone – a tasty incentive for the players if ever I saw one.

Quite how they will muster that elusive win remains to be seen. Their last-gasp defeat away at Wigan (2-1) last time out – Ben Foster conceding in the dying embers of that game – stretched their barren spell in the league to three games, three of which were defeats. So morale is hardly going to be at an all-time high.

Injuries to Alex Hleb and Martin Jiranek only compounds Alex McLeish’s woes, while Obafemi Martins, who scored Birmingham’s famous winner in the Carling Cup final, is rated doubtful along with Ben Foster who was forced to withdraw from the England squad with illness. However, Lee Bowyer should at least be in contention.

Bolton

League Position: 7th
League Form: LWDWL

The Trotters hold fond memories of their last visit to St Andrews, but they’ll be hard-pressed to repeat the trick not even a month after they were last in the Midlands contesting a fixture with the Blues, that despite Birmingham’s recent slump in form, as Bolton’s record on the road in the Premier League this season has been woeful, and even more so since the turn of the year.

In an FA Cup Sixth Round tie, Bolton produced one of their most dogged and bullish displays of the season when they last came face-to-face with St Andrews and their usually formidable occupants. Elmander, Davies and Lee were the scorers for Bolton in a stunning 3-2 triumph which helped the club seal a club-first trip to the new Wembley for the semi-finals. Although another win over the same opponents wouldn’t be as rewarding as a trip to Wembley, what it would do is keep alive their hopes and dreams of a return to Europe.

Owen Coyle has done a tremendous job just in steering the club well away from any potential threat of relegation, with the club having reached the magic 40-point milestone which normally assures safety with eight games to spare, but the Bolton manager still harbours hopes of a top-five finish which would reward his hard-working team with Europa League football next season. Currently, with the season drawing to a close, the Trotters find themselves nine-points shy of fifth-placed Tottenham having also played one game more, but a succession of wins could change their situation dramatically, and that’s the carrot which Coyle hopes will keep his players interested right until the very end of the term.

It is highly unlikely that Bolton will beat the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham to fifth, but European football would drift even further into the distance should they lose further ground. So they need three points from this weekend’s trip to St Andrews, where they’ve won only two of six Premier League meetings. The task becomes even more daunting when you consider that Owen Coyle and his team haven’t celebrated an away victory in the league since 13 November; losing seven and winning none of their last eight away league games.

Owen Coyle does have his fair share of injuries but few of huge significance. One player in particular who will be sorely missed is tough-tackling midfielder Stuart Holden. The American’s absence could prove decisive as Bolton compete against one of the more combative midfield set-ups in the Premier League.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Seasons

2010/2011: Bolton 2-2 Bimingham
2009/2010: Bolton 2-1 Birmingham
2009/2010: Birmingham 1-2 Bolton
2007/2008: Bolton 3-0 Birmingham
2007/2008: Birmingham 1-0 Bolton

Premier League

Birmingham wins: 5
Bolton wins: 6
Draws: 2 

Betting

Match Prediction: Birmingham to WIN – 2.50 Boylesports

Birmingham could possibly be without several crucial figures for Saturday’s match with high-flying Bolton, who themselves post an extensive list of absentees. Owen Coyle, though, is without only squad players, only a select few first-team personnel, and that should give the Trotters the slight edge, mentally more than anything else.

Picking a winner becomes excrutiatingly difficult when using only form as your compass, as neither boast a strong set of credentials in this particular department. Bolton have won three of their last six in the league whereas Birmingham are without a win in four, having lost three of those. However, home comforts should serve the Blues well, as well as the two-week international break enabling them to reassess their situation and handing them valueble time to recover from a recent lull in form.

So, I’ve decided to take a chance of Alex McLeish’ out-of-sorts but in desperate need of points Birmingham, probably because they’re facing a Bolton side who haven’t won away from home in the league since early-November and have lost seven of their previous eight away assigments; five of which without scoring.

Value Bet: Birmingham to WIN to NIL – 4.20 PaddyPower

If the Blues are to stop the rot, their usually rock-solid and reliable defence will probably be at the heart of the success. It does help that their opponents at the weekend are a Bolton team who have failed to find the back of the net in five of their previous eight away league games.

Match Odds:

Birmingham – 2.50 Boylesports
Draw – 3.30 VictorChandler
Bolton – 3.10 BetFred

Birmingham City V Bolton Wanderers

Date & kick-off: Saturday, 12th March – 12:45 (GMT)
Venue: St Andrews
TV Coverage: ESPN

Birmingham City

- Made two finals, their last in 1956, but have never won the FA Cup.

- Are likely to be without Craig Gardner, Barry Ferguson and Alex Hleb, who all missed Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Everton at Goodison Park, while David Bentley and Keith Fahey also picked up injuries during the trip to Merseyside.

- The club has more pressing matters now that the Carling Cup has been secured, with their top-flight status still up in the air what with the Blues level on points with relegation occupants West Ham in 18th.

- Manager Alex McLeish has expressed his concerns at the state of both their league predicament and his lack of first-team numbers.

Should Birmingham go on to lift the FA Cup on May 14th, the Blues would bring a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘you wait ages for one bus and then two come along at once’. The club had previously gone 47-years without winning a trophy before claiming this term’s Carling Cup, after a hard-fought 2-1 win over Arsenal in the final, so to clinch two in a single campaign really would be a touch of irony, and some feat, too, considering Birmingham have never lifted the FA Cup before in their history.

It would be very easy for everyone to assume that whatever happens between now and the end of the season, Birmingham have enjoyed one of their most successful campaigns in their history. In this day and age, league commitments have taken precedent over everything else, so it would be no exaggeration to say that the Carling Cup will be of scant consolation should the season end in relegation from the Premier League – the most watched football league in the world.

Unfortunately, though, that very scenario is a real possibility, with the club hovering precariously over the relegation zone by a single-point. So it may not be long before Alex McLeish decides Birmingham have had their day in the sun and throws all of his available eggs in the proverbial basket, ‘available’ being the most apt word to describe McLeish’s current predicament.

The Birmingham manager is beginning to see what a season full of hard graft can do on a squad which isn’t the strongest by any stretch of the imagination, with McLeish expected to once again be without Midfield trio Alex Hleb, Barry Ferguson and Craig Gardner at the weekend, while the sight of Richard Fahey and David Bentley leaving Goodison in midweek, Birmingham earning a creditable 1-1 draw away to Everton on Wednesday, with knocks will have been sore on the eyes.

1956 was the last time Birmingham City made the final of an FA Cup, and I’m sure Alex McLeish is determined to end that particular drought. Unfortunately, circumstances so often dictate and in this instance, the Scot has his hands tied in many respects. Still, the one piece of solace is that they are the ones doing the hosting on Saturday, with St Andrews having served the Blues well in recent times.

To win the 2010/2011 FA Cup – 17.00 (16/1) StanJames

Bolton Wanderers

- Made seven final appearances, winning four, though their last was back in 1958.

- Owen Coyle should have virtually a full strength squad to pick from, with Daniel Sturridge the only absentee after featuring for his parent club Chelsea earlier in the competition.

- Bolton are unbeaten in their last four meetings with Birmingham, winning three.

- Haven’t conceded a single goal in four FA Cup matches this season, and are unbeaten in their last four games in all competitions.

It is of little surprise to hear that Bolton have yet to saviour their first experience of Wembley in a playing capacity, although the same cannot be said of their manager. Owen Coyle was at the helm when Burnley beat Sheffield United 1-0 in the 2008/2009 Championship Play-Off final, but can he go one better by guiding a club which only narrowly avoid relegation from the Premier League last season to the semi-finals of this season’s FA Cup?

Although Wembley would be an entirely new experience for the vast majority of the playing and coaching staff, the club did have their fair share of run-ins with the old Wembley. In fact, Bolton are one of the FA Cup’s most successful clubs, having won the tournament on no less than four occasions, although, you have to cast your minds back to 1958 for the last time the Trotters turned out at Wembley for an FA Cup final.

So it would be some feat should they book an eight final appearance although, as you may have already figured out for yourself, it is they who boast the greater wealth of pedigree in this competition, while their form on the whole isn’t half-bad either. Not only are they currently without defeat in their last four matches in all competitions, they are the only team left who haven’t conceded a single goal in this season’s FA Cup – a stunning achievement when you consider that in the last two rounds they faced Premiership opposition in the form of Wigan Athletic and Fulham, winning both encounters 1-0 away from home.

The positive omens don’t stop at just their current form, their head-to-head record with Birmingham City is also extremely encouraging. Bolton are unbeaten in their previous four meetings with the Blues, three of which were wins. The one and only real dampener is the fact Daniel Sturridge, who has scored three goals during his loan spell, is ineligible because he partook in Chelsea’s Third Round tie with Ipswich Town. Ironically, though, that may prove a blessing in disguise as it could mean Ivan Klasnic deputising, the Croatian striker having scored the winning goal for Bolton on his last three appearances, including both winners in the previous two rounds, at Wigan and Fulham.

To win the 2010/2011 FA Cup – 17.00 (16/1) Coral

Match Prediction: Bolton Wanderers to WIN -2.80 (9/5) StanJames

A long, gruelling season is beginning to take its toll on Birmingham, with fatigue having already crept into camp in a plague-like manner. Now Alex McLeish is facing up to the stark reality that several key players won’t even be available for Saturday’s midday clash, while he also has to think about the general conditioning of his players ahead of a crucial run-in, with surviving in the Premier League imperative but an uphill task at this rate, what with first-team numbers dropping like flies.

In stark contrast, Bolton’s Owen Coyle is having the time of his life. His team are currently in European contention, flying-high in the league, while he also boasts not only a full strength squad of players to choose from but fresh ones as well, with the Trotters not involved in midweek, unlike their opponents, who were put through their paces at Goodison by Everton and had to put in some shift in order to ground out a deserved point.

Bolton have been impressively tidy in the competition so far, with keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen having yet to pick the ball out of his own net. Clinical, professional, you may even say business-like, which is more than can be said for Owen Coyle’s dress code. Coyle has successfully rotated his squad in the FA Cup this season and we feel his team of Trotters are a fantastic shout to out-manoeuvre and probably out-run, considering how many tiring matches the Blues have been involved in of late, Birmingham at St Andrews, where the hosts are usually formidable but have lost two of their last three games.

Value Bet: Ivan Klasnic First Goalscorer & Bolton WIN 1-0 (Scorecast) – 26.00 PaddyPower

Lightening has struck twice so why not a third time? This exact bet would have netted you a handsome amount in Bolton’s previous two FA Cup clashes, Klasnic bagging the winner at Wigan in the Fourth Round and again at Fulham in the Fifth Round.

Match Odds:

Birmingham City – 2.80 (9/5) BetFred
Draw – 3.30 (23/10) Boylesports
Bolton Wanderers – 2.80 (9/5) StanJames

Arsenal V Birmingham City

Date & Kick-Off: Sunday, 27th February – 16:00 (GMT)
Venue: Wembley
Competition: Carling Cup; Final
TV Coverage: Sky Sports HD1 and Sky3D

It would be wrong to say this competition only came to life in the semi-finals, when both these two teams encountered setbacks and weren’t a million miles away from exiting the competition, as the Carling Cup has been going for over seven months now and don’t the managers just know it. Unfortunately, it is a competition the vast majority could do without, and that does include clubs down the lower ends of the football league spectrum, and you would struggle to disagree with some who believe teams only begin to take the tournament seriously when it comes down to the Last-4.

Ironically, whereas most neutrals wouldn’t blink an eye at either potential victor, both Arsenal and Birmingham City are showing the competition utmost respect on Sunday, although that’s only because there’s a trophy at the end of it, and for the favourites, Arsenal, that’s the all important lure.

Nearly six-years have passed since the Gunners last celebrated winning some silverware, back then it was the 2004/05 FA Cup courtesy of a penalty shoot-out victory over rivals Manchester United, and it’s this statistic precisely why so many Arsenal supporters get hounded by rival fans. After all, this is one of the most recognisable clubs in Europe so the fact it hasn’t been winning trophies on a regular basis for some time is disconcerting.

But if Arsenal’s period without a trophy is deemed a drought, then Birmingham’s 47-year wait for silverware is surely classed as a crisis? Not really, as the Blues have spent much of their recent history flirting with the Premier League. They haven’t had the time to mount any realistic bid for silverware. That has quickly changed under Alex McLeish, though, who guided the club into the quarter-finals of last term’s FA Cup but has gone two better this season in leading the Blues to the League Cup final – the last competition they won way back in 1963.

So, what we have here is two clubs who have been staved of success, one considerably longer than the other. But what we also have is a sizeable gulf in class, quality and stature – but this is a cup clash and as this competition has already proven this season, the odd shocker can creep up when you least expect it.

Arsenal

Their pre-match preparations have been marred by several sizeable injury setbacks, one eye will be on their Champions League Last-16 second-leg in Barcelona in just over a weeks time while the other eye may even be on the league, with Manchester United playing their game in hand over the Gunners at the weekend and the Red Devils could enlarge their lead at the summit over Arsenal to four-points with a routine win at the DW Stadium over Wigan Athletic. So for anyone to sit there and say Arsenal are a formality to win this final, they are going the right way about checking into the poor house.

Overwhelming favourites they are, and deservedly so, but this is hardly a team with plenty of experience when it comes to major finals – if you can call the Carling Cup a major final these days. Injuries to crucial figures is also threatening to spoil their day out in the Wembley sun, which I am pleased to confirm we should see at least some of on Sunday inside Wembley. Both Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott have been ruled out through hamstring and ankle injuries respectively, with Robin Van Persie now set to lead the Gunners out as captain.

On the plus side, Arsenal have at least managed to sustain their winning momentum, which has now seen them rack up four straight wins in all competitions, a sublime comeback victory at home to Barcelona in the Champions League included. However, their latest triumph proved most costly, a hard-fought 1-0 win over Stoke City at the Emirates which saw Fabregas and Walcott fail to last the whole match. However, the three-points were vital as it kept them firmly in the hunt for the Premier League – the Gunners now chasing an unprecedented quadruple.

I suppose the question now is how do Arsenal cope without two of their star performers this season? Arsene Wenger believes he has sufficient strength in depth to handle the losses, and to some degree I agree, but an Arsenal team lacking a one Cesc Fabregas is a completely different Arsenal team altogether, in my opinion. Samir Nasri will drop back and attempt to fill the Spaniard’s shoes, and he certainly has the vision, the present of mind and the ability to make haste of Fabregas’s absence, but that doesn’t hide the fact that Arsenal are more exposed than they would be with him in their starting XI.

Birmingham City

It has been a season of struggle with regards to retaining their top-flight status, however, in the cups Birmingham City have excelled. Last season they made it all the way to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, a feat they have at least matched this season with another Last-8 appearance in the world’s oldest and most adored knock-out club competition. However, while the latter two are high up on the club’s list of priorities this season, their immediate attention turns towards more pressing matters, a Carling Cup final where the window of opportunity hasn’t been presented to them, they’ve had to earn it, and on Sunday the Blues have the chance to put to bed a 47-year wait for a major trophy, which, perhaps a little ironically, was this very competition.

Not even the mammoth task that awaits them inside Wembley has deterred the fans from daring to dream, dreaming of seeing full-back Stephen Carr lift the Carling Cup trophy aloft. But it’s a dream which has every chance of coming to fruition as while their opponents on the day are formidable, arguably one of the most technical teams in Europe, Birmingham have proven on so many occasions of late that when they’re at the races, few are as resilient and difficult to beat than Alex McLeish’s men, who are always well-drilled, extremely well-organised and very tenacious and workmanlike in their efforts to win any game of football.

Unfortunately, while they may be one of the hardest working teams in the Premier League, individuals blessed with the technical brilliance to match that of the Gunners are few and far between, and that could be the difference between the two come the final whistle.

Ironically, it could actually be a couple of former Gunners which come back haunt them on Sunday. David Bentley used to be an Arsenal youngster with plenty of promise, but that promise remains unfulfilled. Sebestian Larsson is another former young Gunner, but he’s not even expected to start on Sunday after a long dispute over his future. While Alex Hleb is a tricky customer but has disappointed during his loan spell from Barcelona and is also carrying a knock which could force him to miss the final altogether.

Outside of the former Arsenal hot prospects, Craig Gardner is arguably the one stand-out player in the Birmingham set-up capable of doing something a little bit special that just might turn this final in their favour at some stage. The boyhood Blues fan is deadly from range and is as dogged and determined as any player around, and he won’t need much motivating on Sunday as he, as well as so many others in this Birmingham team, prepare for their very first experience of a Wembley final in what will be a momentous occasion for everyone involved with Birmingham City, although that may not be the case should they fail to bring home the silverware.

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Road to the Final

Arsenal

The Gunners haven’t had the easiest of rides, facing Premiership opposition in every round bar the semi-final. First off, they beat arch-rivals Tottenham in the Third Round, doing so emphatically in the end although with the need of extra-time. Then came again comprehensive display from Arsene Wenger’s men, hammering Newcastle 4-0 at St James’ Park before making it a hat-trick of top-flight scalps by beating Wigan 2-0 at home, once again comfortably.

Ironically, the team they had the most problems with was Ipswich Town. The Championship side actually managed to beat the Gunners in the first leg of the semi-final and even held out for the best part of an hour back at the Emirates in the second and decisive leg, however, Arsenal’s class came through in the end, winning the second leg at home 3-0 and thus clinching the tie and a route through to the final 3-1 on aggregate. So a blistering start before an unconvincing roll over the finish line.

Results

Third Round: Tottenham 1-4 Arsenal (After Extra-Time)
Fourth Round: Newcastle 0-4 Arsenal
Quarter-Final: Arsenal 2-0 Wigan
Semi-Final; First Leg: Ipswich 1-0 Arsenal
Semi-Final; Second Leg: Arsenal 3-0 Ipswich

Birmingham City

The Blues defied a number of scares along the way to secure their safe passage through to the final, beating several lower league opposition in the earlier rounds before really raising their game in the latter stages.

Fans might argue that their stand-out result in the competition thus far was their Quarter-Final victory over local rivals Aston Villa, when Nikola Zigic prodded home a very late winner to seal a 2-1 triumph for the Blues. However, we strongly believe it was their performance in the second-leg of the semi-final, where they came from 3-1 down on aggregate at one point to take the tie into Extra-Time. Craig Gardner then popping up with the winner as Birmingham defied adversity to clinch the tie 4-3 on aggregate. A gutsy, courageous display from Alex McLeish men, something they must replicate on Sunday if they’re to stand any chance of defying the odds once again.

Results

Second Round: Birmingham 3-2 Rochdale
Third Round: Birmingham 3-2 MK Dons
Fourth Round: Birmingham 1-1 Brentford (Birmingham won 4-3 on penalties)
Quarter-Final: Birmingham 2-1 Aston Villa
Semi-Final; First Leg: West Ham 2-1 Birmingham
Semi-Final; Second Leg: Birmingham 3-1 West Ham (After Extra-Time)

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Team News

Arsenal

The Gunners have dominated the headlines beforehand, because of all their well documented injuries to key players. Among those is club captain Cesc Fabregas, who has a slight problem with his hamstring and won’t be risked in order to avoid the Spaniard causing further damage.

Theo Walcott has also been ruled out, though his is a little more serious and will have to spend more time in the treatment room, an estimated two to three weeks.

Thomas Vermaelen is still no nearer to a return to first-team action as an achilles injury continues to plague his campaign, while goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski remains sidelined until at least the end of the season. Laurent Koscielny is a minor doubt but should start in place of Sebestian Squillaci.

Robin Van Persie will captain the side.

Birmingham City

Although his opposite number bemoaning his lack of influential players has stolen most of the headlines on the back pages, Birmingham manager Alex McLeish is also without several individuals who could have made a difference at Wembley.

Defender Scott Dann has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery on a hamstring problem, while fellow centre-half Curtis Davies is cup-tied and ineligible to play.

Liam Ridgwell and Cameron Jerome are both doubts but should recover in time to be in contention at least, although the same cannot be said of former Gunner Alex Hleb who is nursing a knee injury which looks likely to deny him a place on the bench.

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Match Prediction: Draw – 4.20 bWin

We can just about predict how this game will start, and how both teams will approach the match. Arsenal will sprint out of the blocks with the target being to open the scoring as soon as possible in order to force Birmingham out of their rock-solid, defensive shells. Alex McLeish will order his side to defend in numbers whenever Arsenal have possession, so it’s unlikely we’ll be treated to a spectacle. That is unless the Gunners do succeed in their quest to tear open the deadlock early on, then it could be a different contest altogether.

McLeish will be well aware that his side have a better chance of winning this game 1-0 rather than 3-2, so the onus is on the midfield and the defence to remain organised and disciplined throughout, before either using the counter-attack or set-pieces as a possible route to Arsenal’s goal. So it would appear a tight affair on paper, a tactical battle between the two managers, although Arsenal have the guile in the centre of the park, even without captain Cesc Fabregas, to prize open any defence.

It remains a massive ask, but Birmingham can be immensely difficult to break down when on their game and I’m banking on them frustrating the Gunners with their solid set-up. It’s also imperative that when they do create chances, they take them as Arsenal should take most of theirs. Still, I reckon there’s value in the draw, especially if Birmingham are on top of their game.

Value Bet: Draw/Birmingham (HT/FT Betting) – 17.00 Bet365

Match Odds:

Arsenal – 1.57 Betfred
Draw – 4.20 bWin
Birmingham City – 7.50 VictorChandler

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Birmingham City V Sheffield Wednesday

Date and Kick-Off: Saturday, 19th February – 15:00 (GMT)
Competition: FA Cup; Fifth Round

The first meeting between the two in the FA Cup for 42-years and it looks all the more likely to go the way of the favourites, which in this instance is Birmingham City, and rightly so. The Blues are now plying their trade in the top-flight, mixing it with the very best in the country and, more times than not, holding their own. Their opponents, unfortunately, are on a downward spiral and if they’re not careful, could be playing their football in League Two next season. This a team who, let’s not forget, were once a Premiership club during the 90′s.

Both teams head into this Fifth Round tie on the back of disappointing defeats, though it is Birmingham who still look every bit the winner. The Blues will be buoyed by the prospect of a Carling Cup final in a little over a weeks time, their situation in the Premier League is looking a lot more healthier than it was a couple of weeks ago, while they undoubtedly have the better calibre of players. Wednesday, meanwhile, are in crisis at the present having won just one of the last eight games, as well as losing eight of their previous nine away assignments. Even a change of manager hasn’t done the trick, with the Owls in desperate need of some inspiration in order to put an end to their dismal sequence of results and victory over Premiership side Birmingham should do the trick.

Birmingham, victorious in five of the last six meetings with Sheffield Wednesday, are actually a half-decent price considering everything would appear well and truly stacked in their favour. WilliamHill go 4/6 (1.67) on a Birmingham City victory on Saturday, while bWin go 21/4 (6.25) on Wednesday springing a surprise at St Andrews. The draw, if you’re interested, can be snapped up at 14/5 (3.80) with Boylesports.

Birmingham City

With next weekend’s Carling Cup final in mind, Birmingham chief Alex McLeish is prepared to ring the changes for Saturday’s Fourth Round FA Cup tie with lower league opposition in the form of League One’s Sheffield Wednesday. The former Rangers and Scotland tactician isn’t willing to risk picking up any costly injuries before such a crucial game, arguably the biggest of his managerial career, in a match which should he win, may even save his bacon should the worst happen and Birmingham City do get relegated from the Premier League at the end of the season.

So we’re told to expect changes, though that doesn’t bode too well considering a half-decent Birmingham side struggled to overcome Coventry City in the previous round. The Blues even had to come from 2-0 down in order to seal a narrow but in the end hard-fought 3-2 victory, although they weren’t convincing in the slightest, and so, a weakened side, albeit against opposition inferior on paper, would instantly make them a vulnerable outfit ahead of Saturday’s tie.

McLeish, though, strongly believes that even with a much-changed side, there is absolutely no reason why Birmingham shouldn’t sail into the next round. He’s expecting nothing less than an accomplished performance on Saturday afternoon, and for his team to take full advantage of their opponent’s recent slump in form and lull in confidence. While there’s also the small matter of places being up for grabs ahead of next weekend’s Carling Cup showcase with Arsenal – A tasty incentive for the Birmingham fringe players if ever there was one.

Sheffield Wednesday

The club weren’t necessarily expecting instant results when they dislodged Alan Irvine from the managerial hot-seat and replaced him with Gary Megson, however I doubt they had back-to-back defeats in mind – Wednesday extending their miserable run of form to four games without winning, while away from home they’ve won only one of their last nine. Hardly a positive omen ahead of this weekend’s Fourth Round FA Cup tie at Birmingham City.

In free-fall but somehow boasting the luxury of a Fourth Round, Saturday’s trip to St Andrews could make or break the club. Dropping down to League Two is an unthinkable scenario, but plausible nonetheless. Their emphatic midweek defeat away at Tranmere Rovers left Megson’s charges languishing in the lower half of the nPower League One table, just five-points above the relegation places.

But it isn’t their poor league position which is of major concern, as relegation really shouldn’t be a reality come the end of the term, it’s their current plight in form. The Owls have only won one of their last nine matches in all competitions and even with a recent change in management, the team haven’t responded and a revival in fortunes doesn’t appear in the offing. Morale is understandably low and although their manager claims he has every confidence in his team, the players still need convincing of their own ability.

The FA Cup has, however, been their getaway clause this season, a competition in which they’ve amassed 15 goals in 4 games just to make it this far. And with their Fourth Round opponents expected to ring the changes, there is definitely an opportunity here for the Owls to really give their self-esteem, a lift and kick-start their faltering season.

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Recent Form

Birmingham City

Last 5 in All Competitions

15/02/2011: Birmingham 0-2 Newcastle (Premiership)
12/02/2011: Birmingham 1-0 Stoke (Premiership)
06/02/2011: West Ham 0-1 Birmingham (Premiership)
02/02/2011: Birmingham 2-2 Manchester City (Premiership)
29/01/2011: Birmingham 3-2 Coventry (FA Cup)

- A 2-0 home reverse at the hands of Newcastle United during the week was Birmingham’s first defeat in six games (4 League, 1 FA Cup & 1 League Cup)

Last 5 Home Games

15/02/2011: Birmingham 0-2 Newcastle
12/02/2011: Birmingham 1-0 Stoke
02/02/2011: Birmingham 2-2 Manchester City
29/01/2011: Birmingham 3-2 Coventry (FA Cup)
26/01/2011: Birmingham 3-1 West Ham (Carling Cup)

- Birmingham have lost just 3 of 20 games at home this season, failing to score in just five.

2010/2011 FA Cup

Third Round: Millwall 1-4 Birmingham
Fourth Round: Birmingham 3-2 Coventry

Sheffield Wednesday

Last 5 in All Competitions

15/02/2011: Tranmere 3-0 Sheffield Wednesday (League One)
12/02/2011: Rochdale 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday (League One)
05/02/2011: Sheffield Wednesday 2-2 MK Dons (League One)
01/02/2011: Peterborough 5-3 Sheffield Wednesday (League One)
29/01/2011: Sheffield Wednesday 4-1 Hereford (FA Cup)

- Wednesday have celebrated victory in just one of their last eight games, and in none of their previous four, with three of those coming in the way of defeats.
- Sheff Wed’s last nine games have produced at least 3 goals, as have all four of their FA Cup ties this season.

Last 5 Away Games

15/02/2011: Tranmere 3-0 Sheffield Wednesday
12/02/2011: Rochdale 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday
01/02/2011: Peterborough 5-3 Sheffield Wednesday
22/01/2011: Leyton Orient 4-0 Sheffield Wednesday
08/01/2011: Bristol City 0-3 Sheffield Wednesday (FA Cup)

- Not only have the Owls won only one of their last nine away fixtures, eight of those were losses.

2010/2011 FA Cup

07/11/2010: Southport 2-5 Sheffield Wednesday
27/11/2010: Sheffield Wednesday 3-2 Northampton
08/01/2011: Bristol City 0-3 Sheffield Wednesday
29/01/2011: Sheffield Wednesday 4-1 Hereford

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Head-to-Head

Last 5 Seasons

2008/2009 Championship: Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Birmingham City
2008/2009 Championship: Birmingham City 3-1 Sheffield Wednesday
2006/2007 Championship: Birmingham City 2-0 Sheffield Wednesday
2006/2007 Championship: Sheffield Wednesday 0-3 Birmingham City

- Birmingham have been victorious in five of the previous six meetings with Sheffield Wednesday, the Blues winners of the last three encounters at St Andrews.

FA Cup

1968/1969: Sheffield Wednesday 2-2 Birmingham City (Birmingham won the replay 2-1)
1891/1892: Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 Birmingham City

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2010/2011 League Statistics

Birmingham City (Premiership)

League Position: 14th
Win-Draw-Lose: 6-12-8 (Home: 4-7-3)
Goal Difference: 25-35 (Home: 13-15)
Top Scorer: Craig Gardner & Nikola Zigic

Sheffield Wednesday (League One)

League Position: 16th
Win-Draw-Lose: 10-6-13 (Away: 4-1-10)
Goal Difference: 44-42 (Away: 22-29)
Top Scorer: Neil Mellor (7)

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Match Prediction: Sheffield Wednesday to WIN – 6.00 PaddyPower

In the knowledge that Alex McLeish is willing to protect those key to the club’s chances of securing the Carling Cup in a week’s time, I believe Sheffield Wednesday are a touch of value providing they put their league woes behind them and get back to what they’ve done better than most in the FA Cup this season, which is scoring goals, and plenty of them.

Of course, it goes without saying that Saturday’s trip to St Andrews to face Premiership side Birmingham City is most definitely their hardest assignment thus far, but Birmingham aren’t a club with mass amounts of depth. Gary Megson is set to name his strongest side and that’s good enough for me against a Birmingham side who struggled to overcome Coventry in the last round.

Match Odds:

Birmingham City – 1.70 VictorChandler
Draw – 3.90 bWin
Sheffield Wednesday – 6.00 PaddyPower

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