Birmingham City can boost their push for a top-half finish in the Championship with a win against Charlton Athletic at St Andrew's on Saturday.

However, they host a Charlton side who returned to winning ways last weekend and will look to end their season on a high ahead of a possible promotion challenge next season.

Birmingham City

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Birmingham escaped relegation with some stoppage-time heroics at Bolton Wanderers last season, but their current campaign threatened to be another tale of struggle after the early weeks.

Lee Clark was sacked in October with City just above the drop zone, but new manager Gary Rowett quickly took the Blues away from danger with eight wins from his first 12 games in charge at St Andrew's.

A top-half finish is now a real possibility for Birmingham, but a run of five victories from their last 20 matches has derailed those ambitions somewhat.

While the West Midlands outfit have only managed one clean sheet in their last 10 outings, they were only narrowly beaten by table-topping Watford last weekend.

However, Birmingham's form at St Andrew's recently has been far more resolute, with no defeats in six games, taking 14 points out of a possible 18.

On Wednesday, City beat FA Cup semi-finalists Reading thanks to a solitary strike from Clayton Donaldson at the Madejski Stadium, to move the Blues into 13th place.

Recent form: WLWDLW

Charlton Athletic

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When Bob Peeters was sacked after winning only once in 12 matches, it appeared that a top-six place would be the last thing on the agenda when Guy Luzon was hired as his replacement.

The Israeli coach transformed the Addicks' fortunes with seven victories in nine games and, despite a dip in performance, Luzon may feel that his team is capable of challenging for bigger things next season.

Charlton won their first game in five by beating Leeds United thanks to two goals in five minutes from Tony Watt and Yoni Buyens, and are only three points behind ninth-placed Blackburn Rovers.

A cause for concern may be their away record this season, having only won five of their 22 games on their travels - fewer away victories than already-relegated Wigan Athletic.

However, they have picked up two wins in their last six outings away from The Valley, with two draws in that time.

Recent form: WLDDDW

Team News

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Birmingham's biggest selection headache will be whether to recall teenage forward Demarai Gray into the starting lineup, after he was dropped in favour of Wes Thomas against Reading.

David Cotterill and Andrew Shinnie, both of whom were on the bench against the Royals, are also in contention to play.

Charlton may opt to stick with ex-Celtic forward Watt in attack after scoring their opening goal in the victory over Leeds.

Chris Eagles could also retain his place in the starting lineup, but Johnnie Jackson remains a doubt as he continues to recovery from a broken leg.

Birmingham City possible starting lineup:
Randolph; Spector, Morrison, Kiernan; Caddis, Grounds, Tesche, Gleeson, Fabbrini; Gray, Donaldson

Charlton Athletic possible starting lineup:
Henderson; Solly, Fox, Gomez, Ben Haim; Eagles, Buyens, Diarra, Bulot; Vetokele, Watt

Head To Head

In recent years, neither side has shown a winning touch in this fixture, with four of the last six meetings between the pair ending in a draw.

Charlton did win on their last visit to St Andrew's thanks to a 57th-minute winner from Dale Stephens for the Addicks, who would go on to finish 18th last term.

However, prior to that, the East London club's last away win against the Blues was back in the days when both sides were in the Premier League and a young Darren Bent gave Athletic victory in September 2005.

Birmingham's last win against Charlton came at The Valley last season when a brace from Federico Macheda proved enough for Lee Clark's men.

We say: Birmingham 1-0 Charlton

It's hard to predict with both sides closely matched in the Championship, but Birmingham have built up a reasonable run of form at home in recent weeks, taking 14 points from a possible 18, so we have plumped for a narrow home victory.

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