WBA vs Blues - Full Match Preview

Birmingham City visit West Midlands neighbours West Bromwich Albion hoping to get the first points of 2005 away from St Andrews.

Steve Bruce's men beat the baggies 4-0 in the reverse fixture earlier in the season and that sort of result again this time around would surely condemn West Brom to relegation.

Two years ago a last minute Geoff Horsfield strike at St Andrews all but relegated the Albion who needed at least a point to keep up with the relegation pack. Now two years on blues could do it all over again. If blues win at the Hawthorns and results elsewhere go against Albion then Bryan Robson's men could find themselves 10 points adrift of saftey.

This reason, combined with the humilation of the four goal defeat earlier in the season will surely fire up the baggies who are likely to hand new signing Richard Chaplow his debut. But if Birmingham can recapture the sort of form the showed against Liverpool and Southampton then West Brom will be no match for Steve Bruce's blues..

Emile Heskey is to return after serving a one-match suspension. This will see Clinton Morrison fall to the bench after his no-show against former club Crystal Palace. Jermaine Pennant is unavailble following his unsuccesful court hearing which means Robbie Blake could be handed a start on the right of midfield. Bruce though could opt to switch Damien Johnson over to right wing and bring Salif Diao, Mehdi Nafti or Darren Anderton into the middle.

It has been reported that Mario Melchiot will return following his knee injury but the game could come a little too soon for the Dutch international. Darren Carter could return to the squad following a hamstring injury but again is a doubt. Stan Lazaridis should be fit to take a place on the bench whilst Muzzy Izzet will not come into contention for the trip to the Black Country.

Assistant manager Eric Black is confident his side can go to the Hawthorns and take all three points, and the ex-Coventry boss insists the players are ready to make amends for their display against Crystal Palace last weekend.

"On Saturday we had too many that performed below the level that we would expect from them and they would expect from themselves."

"Hopefully they were all as disappointed as we were with the result last Saturday and will want to make amends."

"Ultimately the only indicator will be what happens on Sunday."

Expected line ups:

Blues:
Taylor, Tebilly, Clapham, Cunningham, Upson, Blake, Johnson, Clemence, Gray, Pandiani, Heskey.

West Brom:
Hoult, Albrechtsen, Gaardsoe, Clement, Robinson, Chaplow, Wallwork, Richardson, Greening, Kanu, Campbell

Interesting Stats:

• Blues have yet to gain an away point in the year 2005.
• Blues will 'double' West Brom if they win at the Hawthorns.
• Geoff Horsfield and Darren Purse may come up against their old clubs.
• Blues have lost the last four games away from home.
  

Latest Odds:

Top Tip:

Blues have got to get their first away points of 2005 sometime and where better than at local rivals West Brom. If Pandiani and Heskey are on form the West Brom defence will not cope with them. A 2-0 blues win with a Emile Heskey first goal seems like a sensible bet given the big mans current form but with odds of just 40-1 doesn't seem worthwhile. So my tip is for a cheeky bet on Stephen Clemence to bag the first goal and blues to win 2-0. Clemence is yet to score this season and in past seasons has always managed a couple of goals.

Blues to win 2-0 and Stephen Clemence to score the 1st goal - 125/1 (Odds taken from Sportingodds.Com)