Barnsley Come To St Andrews

Birmingham City look to bounce back from a couple of poor results to keep up their excellent home form when Barnsley visit on Saturday.

The Tykes have drawn their last three games and sit a couple of places behind Blues in the table, but both are on seven points.

The 23rd August 2008 was the last time the two clubs met at St Andrews and Blues ran out 2-0 winners with goals from Kevin Phillips and Garry O'Connor.

Same result will do today.

'It will be a tough task. I have seen Barnsley play in recent weeks and they are a team who are in good form at the moment and playing very well.

'But I think that will be the same conversation I will have about every game.

'We don't have any easy games and we have to make sure we are right up for this one.'

Brmingham City striker Nikola Zigic is again likely to be a substitute.

He made his first appearance of the season following groin surgery when he stepped off the bench for the final 25 minutes against Manchester City.

This 19 year old Kiwi has five goals to date.

Barnsley defender Stephen Foster is one of a number of Tykes players who have been struggling with a virus this week and will be assessed before the game.

Striker Ricardo Vaz Te is fit again after a thigh problem and midfielder Nathan Doyle (groin) is also available.

21 year old local boy, doing well in midfield.

This is the 72nd competitive meeting of these clubs. Birmingham have won 34 of the previous 71, Barnsley 20, with 17 all square.

Birmingham have lost only one of the last nine second level league meetings; 1-0 away in April 2007. They have also conceded only two goals in the last eight home league clashes with the Tykes.

Barnsley's last win at St Andrews was 4-0 in the play-off semi-finals in May 2000. They won the tie 5-2 on aggregate, but lost the final to Ipswich at Wembley.

David Phillips will take charge of Saturday's game. He has refereed six games so far this season, producing a total of 19 yellow cards and two reds.

Got to go for 2-0 Birmingham

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