Blues v Blackburn preview
1May 3, 2013 by Gabriel Sutton
It’s the final game of what hasn’t turned out to be too bad a season for us, all things considered. We’ve kept our Championship status, which we couldn’t afford to lose given our finances, we’ve drastically improved performances since 2013, so the squad seems to be settling under Clark now. Hopefully we can round the season off with a comfortable win.
Likely line-ups
Blues: Butland; Caddis, Davies, Caldwell, Robinson; Redmond, Elliott, Morrison, Mullins, Ferguson; Zigic
Blackburn: Sandomierski; Kane, Dann, Hanley, Williamson; Morris, Jones; King, Nuno Gomes, Goodwillie; Rhodes
Analysis
If, as in their last game, Lee Williamson is forced to play left-back for Blackburn, not his natural position, we might be able to exploit our right-hand side through Nathan Redmond and Paul Caddis. However, Blackburn can be effective on the counter attack through the pace of King and Goodwillie, but more notably they have a 27-goal man in Jordan Rhodes, who Clark managed at Huddersfield. Hancox will miss the game due to a broken hand, so Steven Caldwell could be rushed back into first team action after his illness, presumably moving Robinson back to left-back.
Blackburn this season
It’ll have been a very strange season for Blackburn fans. They’ve campaigned to get their board out, had 4 different managers and have seen their team move from near the top, to near the bottom of the league. However, a late run of form under caretaker manager Gary Bowyer has seen them climb away from the relegation battle, to the point where only a mathematical improbability would see them relegated on Saturday.
My Prediction
I think we’ll win this. Blackburn have one of the worst away forms in the league and although our home form isn’t great either, I would hope the players will want to bow out on a high, in front of the St Andrews faithful. I’m going to go for a nice 2-0 win to enjoy in the sunshine, but more pressing matters await us in the summer ahead.
Head To Head at St Andrews : Played 55
Birmingham Won 34 … Blackburn Won 7 … Drawn 14
By Gabriel Sutton
Congratulations to the Villa for remaining the Pride of Birmingham and surviving in the Premier League,