By Daniel Wood
Huddersfield Town will travel to St. Andrews in the SkyBet Championship, as they go head to head with Birmingham City, Wednesday 28th October; 7:45 pm KO.
The Terriers will be looking to bounce back after losing 2-1 to Preston North End at home last time out.
The loss to Preston and other results meant that Town dropped to 14thin the Championship. However, they are only two points behind the playoffs and six points above the relegation zone.
Before their previous defeat, they were unbeaten in the four games prior in which they won three and drew one during that spell.
Carlos Corberan is aiming for more positive results, as Town aim to shock the system this season.
Birmingham City
The Blues are currently in 17thin the Championship. They are on seven points after seven games and sit three points above the relegation zone.
Last time out, Birmingham City drew away to Queen’s Park Rangers at Loftus Road.
The result meant that the Blues have failed to score for three successive games in the Championship, as they have lost the other two matches 1-0 to Norwich City and Sheffield Wednesday, respectively.
Last season, Birmingham City finished 20thin the Championship. They were only two places above the relegation zone and only two points ahead of the pack.
Aitor Karanka is the current City boss, as he joined in July 2020. He has only managed eight games for the club and so far, he only has a 12.5% win-rate having only won one of those eight games.
Karanka was previously the manager of Nottingham Forest from January 2018 to January 2019. He didn’t achieve much during his time at Forest, as he left the club by mutual consent with them sat in 7thplace in the Championship. He had a 30.8% win-rate with the club.
However, he has had some fortune in England. He managed Middlesbrough from November 2013 to March 2017. In the 2014/15 season, Karanka guided Middlesbrough to runners-up in the Championship and took them to the Premier League. However, they would get relegated after one season in the top flight.
He had a 46% win-rate at the club.
Ones to Watch
JEREMIE BELA
The winger impressed last season at St. Andrews, and he has done again so far this campaign. He scored the winner of the sides only victory of the season so far against Brentford. He has also scored against Rotherham United and earned City a point in stoppage time. The Angolan is City’s top goalscorer this season with his two goals, with both of them coming on home soil.
HARLEE DEAN
The defender has played every minute in the league for the Blues so far this season. He has been playing in a central ‘sweeper’ role in a back three and has been winning an average of 5.4 aerial duels per game, which has equated to a league-high 60.9% aerial success so far this season. City has had three clean sheets this season, and Dean has played a big role in securing those results.
IVAN SANCHEZ
The Spaniard joined from Spanish side Elche on a free transfer this season. Sanchez has featured primarily as a right-winger. He has been a threat on set pieces this season with both of his assists coming from corners. The 28-year old has had an impressive start to his career in England and was named in the SkyBet Championship Team of the Month for September.
Team News – Huddersfield Town
The Terriers will be without Naby Sarr (suspended) and Álex Vallejo (quarantine) for the trip to St. Andrew’s.
Ryan Schofield (thumb), Tommy Elphick (knee), Terence Kongolo (foot), Lewis O’Brien (quad), Danny Ward (hamstring), Christopher Schindler (hamstring), Alex Pritchard (quad) and Rarmani Edmonds-Green (hip) are potentially all out.
PREDICTION
Town leads the head to head results against the Blues. Since their first meeting in 1910, the Terriers have won on 42 occasions, Birmingham has won on 38 occasions, and there have been 33 draws.
Birmingham City has not beaten Town in their last four attempts, as they have lost two and drawn two. The last time City got the victory was in April 2017 at St. Andrews.
The Terriers have been in the better form of the two sides, as they are three points better off in the Championship and have only lost one of their previous five games.
Whereas, City have failed to score in their previous three. This could be a negative factor for the Blues, as confidence could be low. However, they will be desperate to score against Town on Wednesday.
I feel as though it will be a close encounter between the two sides, and I feel as though a draw between these sides is inevitable. I can see Town extending their unbeaten head to head record against City.
Therefore, I predict: