City take on Boro

Blues take on Middlesbrough next in the nPower Championship and if the lads are thinking of grabbing a play off place this season then they really need to get back on form and get something from this one.

But Boro have eyes on a top six place themselves and they will be looking for the win that would consolodate their place in the play off places.

It's all set for a great game.

Chris Hughton - (official site)

'There's no doubt when you're playing a team that's in and around you it has more meaning because it's points they don't get.

'From that aspect it is a big game and I hope it's a big game for us because we've had a difficult time of the late.

'The performance at Leicester wasn't one of our better performances.

'Our performance in perhaps the two home games - Derby and Forest - would have at some stages this season got us wins.

'But I think when things are going against you a little bit and you are not getting the rub of the green as such, that tends to happen'.

Birmingham will give a late check to full-back David Murphy, he has just returned to training after a hip problem.

Defenders Stephen Carr and Jonathan Spector are sidelined, midfielder Jordon Mutch is banned but striker Nathan Redmond should make a return.

Looks most likely to score of late.

Middlesbrough will give a check to Kevin Thomson, he was rendered unconscious in the home defeat by Leeds.

Barry Robson serves a suspension and Faris Haroun is a doubt.

Knows where the goal is alright, will pose Blues a problem or two.

Birmingham have won 35 and lost 30 of 93 league matches against Middlesbrough.

The 3-1 home win in the reverse fixture in August was Middlesbrough's fourth victory in five league meetings with the Brummies, and gives them the chance of a second double in six years.

The West Midlands club have been beaten in one of their last 11 league games with 'Boro at St Andrews.

(bbc)

Graham Scott

122 yellow cards
nine reds.

First time he has refereed a Blues match.

2-2 Draw

Tu 20 Mar 19:45 Portsmouth v Birmingham.

Su 25 Mar 12:00 Birmingham v Cardiff

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