MX23RW : Friday, November 8 12:00:19| >> :120:19132:19132:
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Birmingham logo
Championship
Dec 13, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Reading logo

6-1

Caddis (4'), Gray (11', 24', 45'), Shinnie (46'), Cotterill (60')
FT(HT: 4-1)
Murray (19')

Preview: Birmingham City vs. Reading

Sports Mole previews Saturday's match between Birmingham and Reading at St Andrew's as the hosts look to bounce back from defeat to Blackpool.

Birmingham City boss Gary Rowett will be keen for his side to make a swift return to winning ways when they host Reading at St Andrew's Stadium this weekend.

The Blues were beaten for the first time under their new manager last weekend, and it was a particularly disappointing loss to bottom club Blackpool.

That defeat aside, though, Rowett's reign has been a successful one so far, and the Blues are four points clear of the relegation zone going into this weekend.

The most notable of the former Burton Albion manager's contributions so far is the improvement of Birmingham's dismal home form, with Rowett having amassed seven points from a possible nine at St Andrew's since his arrival.

Those matches have all come against teams with playoff aspirations too, so they will be full of confidence when taking on Reading this weekend.

Wes Thomas is expected to be involved at some point having served a three-match ban, while returning striker Nikola Zigic could be included in the squad having been granted a work visa this week.

Reading, meanwhile, will be looking to win three matches in a row against Birmingham for the first time in their history.

Consistency has been an issue for the Royals so far this season, however, with Reading failing to string two wins together since mid-September.

A goalless draw against Bolton Wanderers last time out means that they won't be able to do that this weekend either, but should they avoid defeat then they would be on their best run of form for almost three months.

They may well be more confident than usual of picking up the win due to their recent victory over Norwich City at Carrow Road, a result that ended a seven-match winless streak away from home.

Nigel Adkins does have a number of injury concerns to deal with, but Alex Pearce is back available and pushing for a place in the starting lineup.

Birmingham:

Recent form: DWDWWL

Possible starting lineup: Randolph; Caddis, Grounds, Morrison, Robinson; Arthur, Davis, Gleeson, Cotterill, Gray; Donaldson

Reading:

Recent form: LWLLWD

Possible starting lineup: Federici; Gunter, Cooper, Hector, Kelly; Obita, Williams, Norwood, Robson'Kanu, McCleary; Murray

Sports Mole says: 1-1


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Burton manager Gary Rowett looks on prior to the Capital One Cup Second Round match between Burton Albion and Queens Park Rangers at Pirelli Stadium on August 27, 2014
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Wycombe WanderersWycombe1392231161529
2Birmingham CityBirmingham1292123111229
3Wrexham1374221101125
4Mansfield TownMansfield127322014624
5Lincoln CityLincoln137332016424
6Bolton WanderersBolton137242219323
7Huddersfield TownHuddersfield137151912722
8Barnsley136432118322
9Reading137152120122
10Stockport CountyStockport145632017321
11Exeter CityExeter126151310319
12Charlton AthleticCharlton135441514119
13Peterborough UnitedPeterborough145362526-118
14Rotherham UnitedRotherham144551416-217
15Stevenage145271015-517
16Blackpool134452125-416
17Bristol Rovers135171520-516
18Northampton TownNorthampton134361720-315
19Wigan AthleticWigan133551211114
20Leyton Orient133281118-711
21Crawley TownCrawley143291225-1311
22Cambridge UnitedCambridge123181117-610
23Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury1422101325-128
24Burton Albion130581325-125


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