Blues Travel To Stoke

Blues travel to the Potteries to take on fellow strugglers Stoke. Both sides are desperate for the three points on offer.

Blues most not only overcome Stoke's scrapbook of free kicks, corners and throws, there is a pretty hostile crown awaiting.

Tony Pulis (on Kenwyne Jones)
"I think it is maturity, more than anything else.

"We will keep talking to him, keep that belief there with him and make sure he understands how important he is to the team."

Alex McLeish
"It's a tough league. It's very competitive and not easy to get goals against teams in the Premier League," said McLeish.
"We have made chances and I would be more disappointed if we were not making chances.
"I think Cameron (Jerome) could have had four or five goals by now, given the chances he's had, one or two others could have contributed as well.
"We're still waiting on one or two to get to full fitness, having come to us late in pre-season.
"That can take a while for players to get back to their top fitness levels, therefore producing the best of their football."

Ryan Shawcross will miss out against the Blues following his red card at the weekend.

Shawcross was shown two yellow cards in the defeat.

Robert Huth is expected to move into the centre of defence, with either Danny Higginbotham or Andy Wilkinson coming into the side.

With no injuries to report, Pulis is otherwise expected to field an unchanged team.

Five goals so far in league and cup games, manages to hit the woodwork in nearly every game.

McLeish is considering handing a start to Chile winger Jean Beausejour after recovering from his knee problem.

The former Scotland boss said: 'He lacks match-fitness but when is he going to get match-fitness? I have to consider him.'

McLeish has no fresh injury concerns.

Colin Doyle will continue to act as back-up for Foster while Maik Taylor nurses a shoulder injury which caused him to be ruled out of the weekend draw with West Ham.

Just getting better with every game, pulled off a world class save on Saturday.

Birmingham have won three of their last four league and cup games at Stoke, keeping a clean sheet in each match.

Stoke's last top-flight win against Birmingham was in March 1984.

The Potters have the Premier League's worst first-half record. They have trailed at half-time in nine of their 11 games, scoring once and conceding 11 times.

Blues have only scored six times in their last eight league matches.

City have won only three of their last 21 top-flight games.

Defeat would be Blues' 100th loss in the Premier League.

Referee - Mark Clattenburg

Assistant 1 - Scott Ledger

Assistant 2 - Phil Sharp

4th Official - Scott Mathieson

2-2 Draw

13/11 A: Manchester City
20/11 H: Chelsea
27/11 A: Fulham
4/12 H: Tottenham Hotspur


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