Big side years ago, powerful and expectant! Seen better days, but we can beat these, although a new manager and fighting for survival! Could be a 0-0 stalemate though! Must win! Cardiff City will be without midfielder Joe Ralls (knee) for the rest of the month and also have an injury doubt over defender Matthew Connolly. But captain Sean Morrison (groin) could return and Callum Paterson (knee) may be passed fit after a midweek scan. Birmingham City midfielder David Davis is back in training but might not be ready to return after five games out. New Blues boss Garry Monk takes charge of his first away game looking to end his side's six-match losing run. Birmingham have already beaten Cardiff once this season, 1-0 at St Andrew's, in previous boss Steve Cotterill's first game in charge in October. Monk's side are seeking a first double over the Bluebirds since the 1994-95 season. Championship manager of the month Neil Warnock is optimistic that he will get some of his injured players back for the end-of-season run-in, but also says he may have to gamble. Birmingham City manager Garry Monk told BBC WM: "Cardiff have won their last five home games, so we know how tough it will be but we showed against a good side in Middlesbrough how well we can compete. "And we have to focus on ourselves. And our fans will back us as they saw on Tuesday night a team that was committed and together and fought to the very end. "I've got a lot of respect for Neil Warnock who has been fantastic to me. He's often given me texts at every club I've been at, being supportive in different situations. That's a good thing from such an experienced manager to a younger manager like me." SAM's prediction Home win 65% Draw 21% Away win 14% SAM, the Sports Analytics Machine, is a super-computer built by @ProfIanMcHale of the University of Liverpool. Match facts Cardiff are unbeaten in five home league matches against Birmingham City since a 2-1 defeat in September 2008 - but they lost at St Andrew's in October. Neither side has scored more than twice in a league fixture between the teams in any of the last 24 meetings, since a 3-0 win for Birmingham in December 1971. Cardiff have won seven and drawn one of their eight home Championship matches against sides in the bottom half of the table. Birmingham, who have lost their last seven games in all competitions, last endured a longer losing run in February 1979, when they lost nine in a row. Cardiff boss Neil Warnock has failed to win any of his last seven league matches against Birmingham. His last win was as Sheffield United manager in November 2001. Garry Monk's first game as a manager, for Swansea City in February 2014, was against Cardiff City - and his side won 3-0. But he has not beaten Warnock as a manager in three attempts, with his three different clubs.
I think Zohore needs to score today and I think he will. He's missed a couple of chances in open play recently that he should have put away. Good job Paterson was behind him after his "air shot" for the first against Barnsley. He did a similar thing a few weeks back and Pilks got the 4th at Leeds after Ken completely missed the ball. The loose ball for his goal against the Wurzels could have fallen to anyone. Ken will be key for this run in and a goal or two will do him (and us) the world of good - let's hope he gets them today.
Big day all round today. All we can do is win our game and the rest will be what it will be. As I said on another thread, if we win we're closer to Wolves, further from villa or both.
City @ 4/6 to take this - far too short for me I'm afraid, not worth the risk for the return. Think I'll go for scorers again today. I'll wait and see who's in the side when I get to the ground and decide then - I'll stick it up on here later.
Looks a more balanced team and bench. Hope they are fit though. 25Etheridge 2Peltier 5Ecuele Manga 14Bamba 3Bennett 18Paterson 24Grujic 21Bryson 19Mendez-Laing 10Zohore 33Hoilett Substitutes 4Morrison 13Pilkington 15Halford 20Damour 28Murphy 35Wildschut 44Madine
OK here it is for today's game. £10 on each midfielder to score anytime - Pato @ 9/2, Grujic @ 5/1 and Bryson @ 13/2. £10 on Ken to score first goal @ 4/1 £10 on Ken getting a brace @ 8/1 That's 50 quid invested just now - let's see what comes back. I might have a punt on Madine scoring if he comes on as sub later.
NML!!! First for a while. Good selection from the manager of the month. Come on. Let's get a couple more.
If he scores Sparkey, taking a big gamble here is Masky...go on I’ll give you 25 minutes with Doris! Please desist from using my emoji pal!
Is anyone having a problem logging on to the not606? I'm using my mobile as I get stuck trying to login on my laptop.
