Coca-Cola Championship Matchday Thirty Five: Barnsley v Birmingham City

Team News

Reds boss Simon Davey will be without Stephen Foster, Andranik Teymourian and Anderson De Silva for the visit of second placed Birmingham City. Foster and Andranik are both suspended, with Foster starting a two game ban for picking up 10 yellow cards, whilst Andranik starts a three match ban for his red card at Cardiff. Anderson misses out due to the sad loss of his mother last week. The Brazilian is still in his homeland. Martin Devaney and Diego Leon could return to the squad however. Devaney missed last week as his wife had a cesarean, whilst Leon has been out for the past five games through injury.

Likely Line-Up:

Heinz Muller
Rob Kozluk
Dennis Souza
Darren Moore
Bobby Hassell
Adam Hammill
Hugo Colace
Jamal Campbell-Ryce
Martin Devaney
Daniel Bogdanovic
Michael Mifsud

Head to Head

If the fact these two sides are at the opposite ends of the Championship table didn't tip the balance firmly in Birmingham's favor, then the fact that The Reds have beaten the Second City side just 20 times in 70 meetings probably will! Although a goal from Daniel Nardiello gave the Reds the points the last time the two sides met at Oakwell in 2007 (when both teams were almost in identical positions, Birmingham were 3^rd and Barnsley were 22^nd) that is the only Reds success in the last eight meetings.

Preceding that Nardiello inspired 1-0 victory, Birmingham had won on each of their three previous visits to Oakwell, although one was a dead rubber 2-1 success in the Division One Play-Off Semi-Finals, after Barnsley had blown Birmingham away with a 4-0 win in the first leg at St Andrews. Birmingham have sure got their revenge as they have won the four meetings at that stadium since.

Birmingham comfortably won the reverse fixture back in August. First half goals from Kevin Phillips and Gary O'Connor sealed an easy 2-0 win.

Birmingham 2-0 Barnsley Match Report 23/8/08

Last six Barnsley v Birmingham Results:

23/8/08 Birmingham 2-0 Barnsley (Championship)

9/4/07 Barnsley 1-0 Birmingham (Championship)

11/11/06 Birmingham 2-0 Barnsley (Championship)

16/2/02 Birmingham 1-0 Barnsley (Division One)

13/10/01 Barnsley 1-3 Birmingham (Division One)

13/1/01Barnsley 2-3 Birmingham (Division One)

Overall Record:

Barnsley Wins: 20
Birmingham Wins: 34
Draws: 16
Barnsley Goals: 88
Birmingham Goals: 112

At Oakwell:

Barnsley Wins: 12
Birmingham Wins: 15
Draws: 8
Barnsley Goals: 53
Birmingham Goals: 56

This Season

Birmingham, along with Wolves and Reading are clearly one of the best three teams in the Championship this season, but this has not stopped them having blips like all the rest. After relegation from the Premier League last season, The Blues are keen for an instant return and the pressure is telling. They started the season with four successive wins in league and cup, but they have been prone to lapses, highlighted by the fact they went four games without a win between Dec/Jan and lost two out of three as recently as Feb/Mar. Two successive 1-0 wins (against Bristol City and Southampton) have strengthened their position in second place however and they are now five points above third placed Reading, although The Royals do have two games in hand. Interestingly though Birmingham haven't won away since Boxing Day- a run of five away games.

Barnsley were dealt a double blow last week, as they lost 3-1 at Cardiff, to end a three match unbeaten run, and then saw Blackpool and Watford win at the weekend when The Reds weren't playing. This has dropped them to fourth bottom, and if Southampton win at home to a Derby side with just four away wins all season, and Barnsley lose to Birmingham, The Reds will drop into the relegation zone with the end of the season in sight.

Last Six Results:

Barnsley:

3/3/09 Cardiff 3-1 Barnsley (Championship)

28/2/09 Barnsley 2-1 QPR (Championship)
21/2/09 Barnsley 0-0 Charlton (Championship)
17/2/09 Sheffield Wednesday 0-1 Barnsley (Championship)
30/1/09 Bristol City 2-0 Barnsley (Championship)
27/1/09 Barnsley 1-2 Ipswich (Championship)

W:2 D:1 L:3 F:5 A:8 GD: -3 Points: 7

Birmingham:

7/3/09 Birmingham 1-0 Southampton (Championship)

4/3/09 Birmingham 1-0 Bristol City (Championship)

1/3/09 Sheffield United 2-1 Birmingham (Championship)

24/2/09 Crystal Palace 0-0 Birmingham (Championship)

21/2/09 Coventry 1-0 Birmingham (Championship)

14/2/09 Birmingham 2-0 Nottingham Forest (Championship)

W: 3 D: 1 L: 2 F: 5 A: 3 GD: 2 Points: 10

Barnsley lie 21^st in the Coca-Cola Championship with 39 points from 34 games.

Birmingham lie 2^nd in the Coca-Cola Championship with 67 points from 37 games.

Barnsley could go as high as 19th with victory whilst Birmingham will remain 2^nd.