Birmingham City will be looking to record back-to-back victories when they host strugglers Blackpool at St Andrew's in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.

Blues produced a gritty display at The Den on Tuesday night to beat Millwall, while Blackpool's relegation fears intensified with a loss against West Bromwich Albion.

Match preview

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Birmingham responded after their weekend defeat at the Stadium of Light against Sunderland by earning a maximum against Gary Rowett's Lions courtesy of a vintage away performance.

Blues once again showed their counter-attacking prowess, with Reda Khadra feeding Lukas Jutkiewicz after a blistering run - the 34-year-old did the rest with a finish from the tightest of angles.

John Eustace's men admittedly dabbled in the dark arts of time wasting, but it was ultimately the defensive efforts from the likes of Marc Roberts and Kevin Long which secured the win in London.

The Second City club moved up to 15th place in the Championship standings and now possess 53 points - the 10-point gap between Blues and the relegation zone means Eustace's charges are mathematically safe with three matches left to play.

With 12th-placed Watford six points ahead, a top-half finish for Birmingham is not entirely out of the question - a placement Bluenoses would have barely believed at the beginning of the campaign.

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Blackpool returned to losing ways on Tuesday night after a disappointing evening at Bloomfield Road against West Brom, with goals from Brandon Thomas-Asante and Taylor Gardner-Hickman settling the contest in favour of the visitors.

The Seasiders have now lost five of their last six in the Championship - a run which leaves them with plenty of work to do in order to preserve their second-tier status for a third-straight campaign.

Stephen Dobbie's men are 23rd in the league standings, six points behind 21st-placed Queens Park Rangers with three games to play between now and the season's end.

Only a win in the West Midlands on Saturday would ensure Blackpool's survival fight continues into next week - even a point for the Seasiders could lead to relegation if Cardiff, Reading and QPR earn results.

The Lancashire-based club have suffered from the dreaded second-season syndrome, although a Blackpool win on Saturday at St Andrew's would go a long way to relieving some of those unwanted symptoms.

Team News

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Birmingham will be without the commanding presence of John Ruddy in net for the first time in the league this season, with the 36-year-old picking up a thigh strain at Millwall - Neil Etheridge will come into the starting XI as a very capable deputy.

Eustace is hopeful of having both Troy Deeney and Dion Sanderson in the matchday squad on the weekend, with the duo stepping up their recoveries from hamstring and back issues respectively over the past fortnight.

Both Scott Hogan and Jutkiewicz are struggling with knocks following Tuesday night's battle at The Den, meaning it could be an experimental forward line which faces Blackpool in this one.

Blackpool suffered more injury woes in midweek, with midfielder Keshi Anderson a doubt for this weekend after picking up an ankle injury in the defeat against West Brom.

The Tangerines' leading scorer Jerry Yates has been playing through pain over recent matches - manager Dobbie has little choice than to ask the forward to go again as his side desperately fight to avoid relegation.

Birmingham City possible starting lineup:
Etheridge; Colin, Roberts, Long, Trusty; Bacuna, Bielik, Chong, Bellingham, Khadra; Hogan

Blackpool possible starting lineup:
Grimshaw; Gabriel, Nelson, Thorniley, Lyons; Fiorini, Patino, Rogers, Carey, Hamilton; Yates

We say: Birmingham City 2-1 Blackpool

Birmingham are continuing to push up the Championship table despite their safety being secured - we are expecting another lively performance from Blues on Saturday.

With their squad as thin as ever, Blackpool travel to the Second City knowing relegation to League One could be sealed if they do not win, and we believe the Seasiders will fail to pick up anything from their outing at St Andrew's.


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