Seagulls Visit St Andrews

Brighton are the next club to visit St Andrews and Blues will be looking to stretch their winning run a little further with a victory over the Seagulls.

Victory over Brighton tomorrow would equal the run of seven straight successes that Barry Fry`s Blues posted in the 1994-95 Second Division and Auto Windscreens Shield double season.

Brighton come to St Andrews without winning a game since they defeated Bristol City at the start of September, they will be hoping to adjust that stat.

"If I look at the games we`ve had, Leeds was probably our toughest game at St Andrew`s and very, very close behind that one would have been Barnsley, where for 45 minutes we weren`t in the game.

"And that`s the quality you`ve got now in this league. Tomorrow we`re up against a team that has got real good momentum and have been together for a period of time now and know each other well and know exactly how they want to play.

"The same way we made the players aware of what Leeds were about, we`ll do with Brighton."

This weekend's visit of Gus Poyet's side will be City's fourth match in 10 days and Hughton will continue to rotate his starting XI.

Having made seven changes for last Sunday's 2-0 victory at Bristol City, Hughton opted for just two in midweek as match-winner Nikola Zigic and midfielder Jonathan Spector came in for Chris Wood and Morgaro Gomis respectively.

Centre-back Curtis Davies passed a late fitness test on his leg to start while midfielder Wade Elliott (calf) and defender Pablo Ibanez (concussion) will be assessed having missed out.

Jordon Mutch remains sidelined for around another month as he concludes his rehabilitation from a broken ankle.

Nine goals from 14 appearances in all competitions means this lad is dangerous to defences.

Brighton will be without Gary Dicker.

The midfielder will have an operation early next week after suffering a fractured fibula during the 1-0 home defeat against West Ham on Monday.

But boss Gus Poyet can welcome Vicente back into his squad after the former Spain midfielder missed the Seagulls' last two matches due to a thigh injury.

Goalkeeper Steve Harper and full-back Gonzalo Jara made their debuts against the Hammers after joining on loan last week and look set to keep their places.

Not scored in last three appearances so he is due a goal.

These clubs have met 20 times competitively; Birmingham have won eight, Brighton six, with a share of the spoils on six occasions.

They last clashed in the league in April 1995, when six goals were shared at St Andrews. Birmingham were top of the third tier at the time and went on to win promotion.

The Seagulls' only away league win over Birmingham was a 2-1 second tier triumph in April 1989.

Scott Mathieson - Cheshire

Games 14
Yellow 38
Red 1

I'll say 3-1 to Blues.

Europa League Th 03 Nov 2011 Birmingham v FC Bruges

Championship Su 06 Nov 2011 Reading v Birmingham

Championship Sa 19 Nov 2011 Birmingham v Peterborough

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