Birmingham City VS Nottingham Forest, backing Bowyer's men to edge this Midlands derby

Match Time：4/22/2021 02:45 Thursday  (GMT+8)

England Championship --  Birmingham City   VS   Nottingham Forest

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Birmingham City will be looking to take another giant step towards Championship safety when they host Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest on Wednesday evening.

 

The Blues have won back-to-back matches to move up to 19th and just one point behind opponents Forest, who are winless in their last two games.

 

Match preview

Birmingham looked in serious trouble after losing 3-0 to Bristol City on March 13, a result that left them three points above the relegation zone, having played four games more than Rotherham United directly below them.

 

That defeat proved a turning point in their campaign in many ways, though, as Aitor Karanka was sacked soon after and replaced with Lee Bowyer, who has done a brilliant job in his first month in charge.

 

The Blues have won four, drawn one and lost one of their opening six matches under former Charlton Athletic boss Bowyer, including back-to-back victories without conceding.

 

Birmingham beat Stoke City 2-0 last week and followed that up with a 1-0 win at Rotherham on Sunday - Harlee Dean scoring late on at the New York Stadium to give his side a nine-point gap on the bottom three.

 

Rotherham still have two games in hand, but there are now enough teams between the Blues and the Millers for Bowyer to sleep a little easier.

 

Forest are in a similar position to Birmingham, meanwhile, insofar as they are effectively now safe but cannot take anything for granted just yet.

 

The Reds lost 2-0 at home to Huddersfield Town on Saturday to make it back-to-back games without scoring, having previously played out a 0-0 draw at Bristol City.

 

Chris Hughton's charges are 10 points better off than 22nd-placed Rotherham, although that could potentially become a four-point margin should the Millers win their games in hand.

 

Forest have only suffered two defeats in their last 12 away league games, though, winning half of those and keeping a clean sheet in both of their last two on the road.

 

However, Birmingham have won all three of their home league games under Bowyer, who could become the first City boss since Dave Mackay in 1989 to win his first four at the helm.

 

Birmingham City Championship form:WLWDWW

Nottingham Forest Championship form:LDWWDL

 

Team News

Scott Hogan was a late substitute for Birmingham in their win against Rotherham and is in contention for a first start since the stalemate with Brentford at the start of the month.

 

Alen Halilovic will play no part on Wednesday because of injury, however, and Jon Toral has also been ruled out for the home side.

 

Ivan Sanchez, another of Birmingham's substitutes last time out, is also pushing for inclusion.

 

As for Forest, they remain without injured midfielders Harry Arter and Joe Lolley for this short trip west.

 

Should Hughton wish to freshen things up, Luke Freeman and Cafu are among those seeking recalls to the side.

 

Striker Glenn Murray has scored six goals in his last six appearances against Birmingham in all competitions, but he has had to settle for a back-up role of late.

 

Birmingham City possible starting lineup:

Etheridge; Dean, Roberts, Pedersen; Colin, Sunjic, Gardner, Seddon; Sanchez; Hogan, Jutkiewicz

 

Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:

Samba; Christie, McKenna, Worrall, Blackett; Garner, Cafu; Knockaert, Krovinovic, Freeman; Grabban

 

Birmingham City 1-0 Nottingham Forest