Birmingham City v Palace

St. Andrews, Tuesday 7.45pm

Crystal Palace

Story so far

There's still very little difference in points taken, goals scored and goals conceded between the top of the Championship and midtable.

Birmingham are sitting four points clear in second but I'm not sure how they're planning to stay there unless they start scoring a few more goals.

Wolves and Reading have put away 26 and 27 goals respectively, giving them a much better chance of finishing in the top two positions.

Birmingham, like the majority of the teams in and around the play-offs, have put away less than half that amount but their defence is top notch.

It's been two years since we've had to venture up to Birmingham and had to deal with their previous Premiership class team. Fortunately Nicklas Bendtner, DJ Campbell and David Dunn won't be about to make a mockery of our defence again but they still have quality throughout.

Team news

Manager Neil Warnock is set to field the same side that won convincingly 3-0 at home to Barnsley on Saturday.

Nathaniel Clyne, 17, should keep his place at right-back after making his pro debut against the Tykes.

Quotes

Roy Hodgson

"I think we can go anywhere and give people a game. We went to Ipswich and had a go at them and we will be doing the same, whether they have got more in their locker than us I don’t know but we will give it a go.

"You’ve seen the quality that they’ve got, I think they had £7m on the bench last week.

"I think the three forwards have been superb and without their movement Ben couldn’t do what he is doing."

Birmingham City - league stats

Full league table

Birmingham City - current form

Full form table

Our away record v Birmingham City

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
17/02/2007	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 1	Birmingham City
19/08/2006	League	Birmingham City	2 - 1	Crystal Palace
26/02/2005	League	Crystal Palace	2 - 0	Birmingham City
30/10/2004	League	Birmingham City	0 - 1	Crystal Palace
01/04/2002	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 0	Birmingham City

All time results

No introduction needs to be made for Kevin Philips. Give him a touch in the box and the ball will likely hit the back of the net. That we know.

Birmingham also have quality in midfield with Sebastian Larsson's passing, awareness and creativity. Stick him with Lee Carsley and that's an impressive midfield.

Out wide, Birmingham can stick in Gary McSheffrey, who seems to have lost his way a touch over the last few years. His pace will always be a threat and, if he can regain his eye for goal, will be an valuable player over the season.

On the other flank you might find Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, a former Arsenal and Ajax youth player. He has pace to burn and has already notched up a few goals from the wing/wide forward position.

Ref watch

Mr N S Miller.

Last meeting

Palace 0-1 Birmingham City

Saturday February 17 2007

Palace: Kiraly, Borrowdale, Hudson, Cort, Butterfield, Ifill, Fletcher, Lawrence, Kennedy (McAnuff, 59), Freedman (Scowcroft, 73), Kuqi (Morrison, 60)

Subs not used: Speroni, Ward

Bookings: Fletcher

Birmingham City: Doyle, Jaidi, Martin Taylor, N'Gotty, Sadler, Clemence, Muamba (Larsson, 79), Johnson, McSheffrey, Jerome (Danns, 88), Bendtner (Vine, 81)

Subs not used: Maik Taylor, Campbell

Bookings: Larsson

Goals: Jerome 34

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