A run of three consecutive defeats and no wins in five has seen Charlton drop below the dreaded dotted line, where they are now two points adrift of safety.

However, if they manage to beat Birmingham this weekend and Millwall fail to win away to Burnley, then the Addicks would find themselves out of the drop zone.

To do that, though, they will need to improve on their recent form, which has seen them score just three goals in their last five Championship outings.

They are the league's lowest scorers overall this season with just 23 goals from their 27 matches, a record they will be hoping that new signing Reza Ghoochannejhad can improve.

Only two teams have picked up fewer points at home than Charlton, but two of their three league wins at The Valley this season have come in their last five matches, so there are signs of improvement.

Lawrie Wilson remains suspended following his red card against Doncaster Rovers last Tuesday, while Chris Powell could also be without injury doubts Rhoys Wiggins, Leon Cort and Chris Solly.

Birmingham are by no means safe from relegation themselves and defeat on Saturday could leave them just three points clear of danger.

The Blues ended 2013 in style with a nine-match unbeaten streak, but 2014 has not been kind to them so far, with Lee Clark yet to steer his side to a victory in the league.

They have amassed just two points from a possible 15 in that time, although their last outing did see them clinch a late draw against high-flyers Derby County in a 3-3 thriller.

Curiously, Birmingham have been noticeably better on the road than they have been in front of their own fans this season, and their 1-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in January was their first in seven away matches.

Federico Macheda was City's hero against Derby last weekend and he is expected to start up front again, while Chris Burke, Reece Brown and Paul Robinson could all return to the side.

Recent form

Charlton: DLWWLL

Birmingham: LWLLLD

Possible starting lineups

Charlton: Thuram; Nego, Morrison, Wood, Lennon; Harriott, Jackson, Ajdarevic, Cousins; Ghoochannejhad, Sordell

Birmingham: Randolph; Caddis, Packwood, Robinson, Blackett; Adeyemi, Huws, Burke, Novak, Brown; Macheda

Sports Mole says: 2-2