Birmingham City Face West Brom in Crucial Championship Derby
Birmingham City will be looking to strengthen their position in the Championship play-off race when they host local rivals West Bromwich Albion at St Andrew's on Tuesday evening. The Blues enter the match on an impressive seven-game unbeaten run, sitting ten places and twelve points above their struggling neighbours.
Defensive Headaches for Both Sides
West Brom arrive at St Andrew's with significant defensive concerns, likely to field just one fit centre-back. Meanwhile, Birmingham manager Chris Davies has his own selection dilemmas to solve at the back following Phil Neumann's muscle injury during the victory over Leicester City.
With Jack Robinson already sidelined, Davies faces a crucial decision regarding his defensive setup. The 40-year-old manager confirmed Neumann was forced off after an hour against Leicester, leaving a gap in the backline that requires careful consideration ahead of this important derby fixture.
Davies' Defensive Options Analysed
The Birmingham boss has several possibilities to consider for his defensive configuration. Tomoki Iwata moved into the centre-half position against Leicester City, though this deployment came when the visitors were already reduced to ten men and playing defensively.
While Davies has previously used the Japanese midfielder in central defence, starting him in this position from the beginning would represent a significant tactical decision. The alternative would be handing a debut to Jonathan Panzo, a recognised left-footed centre-back who would allow Christoph Klarer to shift to the right side of defence.
This option carries some risk given Panzo's lack of Championship experience but offers the advantage of fielding a natural defender in his preferred position. Moving Iwata into defence would necessitate replacing him in midfield with Bright Osayi-Samuel, creating two changes rather than one.
Midfield Consistency Expected
In midfield, the partnership of Jhon Solis and Paik Seung-ho appears likely to continue given their recent performances. Solis has made a significant impact since arriving from Girona, while there are clear signs that Paik is finding improved form as the season progresses.
The Colombian midfielder's influence has been particularly notable, providing both defensive solidity and creative impetus from the centre of the park. This established partnership offers Davies some welcome stability in an area where Birmingham have shown considerable improvement in recent weeks.
Attacking Selection Decisions
In the attacking positions, only Ibrahim Osman can consider himself a probable starter due to limited competition from fit alternatives. Davies faces interesting decisions regarding his forward line, particularly whether to reintroduce Patrick Roberts after resting him against Leicester.
With Albion likely to adopt a defensive approach, the Spanish winger Carlos Vicente might struggle to find space behind the opposition defence from the start. Roberts' creativity and freshness could prove valuable against a compact West Brom side expected to sit deep.
Striking Dilemma for Davies
The most intriguing selection debate centres on the number nine and ten positions. August Priske will be desperate for his first start, but dropping Jay Stansfield seems unlikely after the forward finally ended his goal drought.
Davies could potentially deploy the 23-year-old Stansfield as a number ten rather than an out-and-out striker. This tactical adjustment would allow Priske to lead the line, potentially exploiting a height advantage if West Brom are forced to play left-back Charlie Taylor at centre-half.
Such a move would mean resting Marvin Ducksch, who made a significant impact against Leicester with one moment of quality rather than sustained involvement. The German forward's technical ability provides Davies with another valuable option as he considers how best to break down West Brom's likely defensive setup.
Predicted Lineup and Final Thoughts
The anticipated Birmingham City lineup suggests Davies may opt for Panzo's debut alongside Klarer in central defence, with Iwata remaining in midfield. The attacking quartet could feature Roberts returning to the wing alongside Osman, with Stansfield potentially operating behind Priske in a flexible forward setup.
These selection decisions highlight the improved squad depth available to Davies as Birmingham seek to maintain their play-off challenge. Having multiple options represents a positive problem for the manager, particularly against a West Brom side grappling with significant injury concerns in defence.
The derby atmosphere at St Andrew's promises to be electric as Birmingham aim to extend their unbeaten run and deepen West Brom's difficulties in what could prove a pivotal Championship encounter for both clubs.
