....................... please log in to view this image ..........LEEDS UNITED V BIRMINGHAM CITY MATCH THREAD Birmingham are without Zigic <phewww>who serves his final game of his three match ban whilst Paul Lovenkrands (groin) and Pablo Ibanez (broken toe) are ruled out Jonathan Spector should return after he served his suspension during the midweek draw against Millwall. Full-backs Stephen Carr (knee) and Paul Caddis (shoulder) continue to miss out with their long-term injuries. Leeds skipper Lee Peltier (ankle), and midfielders Rudy Austin (ankle) and Michael Tonge (shoulder) are doubtful. Warnock recalled defender Adam Drury and forward Luke Varney to his starting line-up against Charlton at the expense of Aidy White and Tonge, and must decide whether to retain them. Recent loan signing Ryan Hall has been an unused substitute in Leeds' last two matches following his arrival from Southend and is pushing for his debut, but striker Ross McCormack (ankle) is still out, and not expected back til after Christmas. MATCH FACTS Head-to-head • Birmingham won the first of 90 league and cup meetings with Leeds staged since 1920, and hold a narrow 34 wins to 33 lead. • The visitors completed the double over their West Yorkshire opponents with a 4-1 victory at Elland Road in January, when Nikola Zigic scored all four goals. Birmingham are now chasing a fourth successive victory over Leeds. • The Whites need to score once to take their total of league goals over Birmingham to 100. Leeds United • The Whites are looking to regain a top six placing by stretching their unbeaten run to seven matches, and to eight in all competitions. • They have found the net in all 12 Championship matches, which have either been drawn or decided by a single goal. • Neil Warnock's charges have not lost to any of the current bottom-half clubs. • Their first goal attempt will be Leeds' 100th of the season, fewer than any other Championship club. Birmingham City • Blues have drawn back-to-back league games and are without victory in four. Three points would be a welcome 40th birthday present for manager Lee Clark. • The 1-0 triumph at Brighton on 29 September is not just their only maximum in six, it's their solitary victory in 11 league and cup games on the road in nearly seven months. • Marlon King's match-saving hat-trick against Millwall on Tuesday, doubled his league tally for the season, and means he has scored a third of Birmingham's league and cup goals (seven of 21).
Got a bad feeling about this one. Think our luck might have ran out now. -----------------Kenny Peltier(if fit)-Lees---Pearce--------Drury Byram------Norris---Austin (if fit)--Tonge ------------Diouf---Varney/Becchio Hall to play a part 2nd half
-------------------Kenny----------------------- Byram--------Lees--------Pearce-------Drury Hall-------Green--------Norris--------White ---------Diouf---------Becchio If there are question marks over Peltier, Austin and Tonge's fitness, I wouldn't play em. Birmingham cannot be the same team without Zidic, Lovenkrands and Caddis
Think we will play sexy silky football, using a 442 formation and lots of bombing runs from midfield and down the wings. Becchio to score 4 in a 7-1 thrashing, Hall assisting on 5 of the goals. Frigging Captain Elmo.
I had us down to get 10 points this month from the 4 games ( as they were easy ones ) and up to 3rd in the league. That plan is still intact, ............................provided we get 5 points or more from the game today. I thought we'd drop points on this one, to be honest and win the others.
Kenny Peltier Lees Pearce Pugh Byram Norris Austin Tonge Becchio Diouf. SUBS: Drury Green Ashdown White Brown Gray Hall
Coin thrown at Diouf, those Birmingham fans are vile scum, I say they shouldn't be allowed to take any more fans away from home.