Birmingham City will be desperate to kick off the New Year by snapping a dismal run of form when they travel to face Watford at Vicarage Road on Wednesday. Chris Davies's side have not won in their last six Championship outings, a stark contrast to their opponents who are unbeaten in six and have surged into the play-off places.
Form Tables Turned Since Last Meeting
The irony of the fixture is not lost on Blues fans. Birmingham's last victory came against this same Watford side, a 2-1 win at St Andrew's on the 1st of December thanks to goals from Paik Seung-ho and Demarai Gray. That result lifted Birmingham to seventh, while Watford slumped to 15th.
Since then, the fortunes of both clubs have dramatically reversed. Watford's three-match winning streak has propelled them up the table, while Birmingham have managed just three points from a possible 18, sliding down to 15th position themselves. With only two away wins all season, the pressure is on for Birmingham to respond and reignite their faltering promotion ambitions.
Predicted Birmingham City Lineup
Manager Chris Davies is expected to make two significant changes to his starting eleven in an attempt to freshen up his attack and find a winning formula.
Goalkeeper and Defence
James Beadle is set to continue in goal for the third consecutive match since returning from injury. In defence, Alfons Sampsted should retain the right-back spot after a man-of-the-match display against Southampton.
The central partnership is likely to be Phil Neumann and Jack Robinson, with the latter filling in for the suspended Christoph Klarer. At left-back, Eiran Cashin is on course to make his tenth league appearance of the campaign.
Midfield and Attack
The midfield is predicted to feature Tomoki Iwata in a central role, a position more natural to him than the right-back berth he has often occupied. He should be partnered by Paik Seung-ho, with Jay Stansfield operating in the advanced number ten role.
The first key change comes on the left wing, where Liverpool loanee Lewis Koumas is tipped to replace Willum Þór Willumsson. The second, and more striking, alteration is up front. German striker Marvin Ducksch is expected to lead the line instead of Kyogo Furuhashi, offering a different physical focal point for the attack. Patrick Roberts should complete the lineup on the right flank.
A Pivotal New Year's Clash
This fixture represents a critical juncture for Birmingham City. Facing a Watford side brimming with confidence, Davies's tactical adjustments and team selection will be under intense scrutiny. A positive result at Vicarage Road could provide the catalyst to reverse their slide, while another defeat would deepen the gloom and increase the urgency for reinforcements in the January transfer window.
