The Championship promotion picture has undergone another dramatic shift as Stoke City prepare to face Birmingham City this weekend with a severely depleted squad. The Potters are set to be without eleven first-team players for Saturday afternoon's crucial clash at St Andrew's, presenting Blues with a significant opportunity to continue their recent resurgence.
Birmingham's Resurgent Form Contrasts with Stoke's Woes
Just a few weeks ago, Birmingham City's season appeared to be stalling following a comprehensive 3-0 defeat to Watford on New Year's Day. That result left supporters glancing nervously down the table rather than upwards towards the play-off positions. However, a determined response has seen Blues collect seven points from their last three matches, including a vital away victory against Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday.
This upturn in form has propelled Birmingham to thirteenth position in the Championship standings, now sitting just five points behind sixth-placed Preston North End. The timing of their revival couldn't be better, with several teams above them dropping points during the midweek fixtures. Of the eight clubs directly above Birmingham in the table, only Derby County managed to secure three points.
Stoke's Mounting Personnel Problems
Stoke City were among those sides to suffer disappointment in midweek, falling to a defeat against automatic promotion contenders Middlesbrough. The loss was compounded by significant personnel setbacks that will severely impact their preparations for Saturday's encounter.
The Potters' problems began with the sending off of midfielder Bosun Lawal against Middlesbrough, resulting in an automatic suspension that rules him out of the Birmingham fixture. Lawal had scored the only goal when these two sides met back in September, making his absence particularly significant.
Further compounding manager Mark Robins' selection headaches is a serious injury to goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu. The Southampton loanee has been ruled out for approximately six weeks after sustaining a thigh injury during just his second appearance for the club.
Complete List of Stoke Absentees
The scale of Stoke's selection crisis becomes apparent when examining the full list of unavailable players:
- Viktor Johansson (shoulder injury)
- Gavin Bazunu (thigh injury)
- Junior Tchamadeu (knee injury)
- Bosun Lawal (suspension)
- Ben Gibson (calf injury)
- Lewis Baker (knee injury)
- Robert Bozenik (shoulder injury)
- Sam Gallagher (hamstring injury)
- Divin Mubama (ankle injury)
- Emre Tezgel (ankle injury)
- Nathan Lowe (leg injury)
Remarkably, this extensive injury list includes all of Stoke's recognised strikers, leaving Robins with severely limited attacking options for the trip to Birmingham. The cumulative effect of these absences means Stoke will essentially be fielding a makeshift side against a Birmingham team growing in confidence with each passing week.
Promotion Race Takes Another Twist
This developing situation at Stoke City represents yet another twist in what has become an increasingly unpredictable Championship season. Teams' fortunes can change dramatically within the space of a few matches, as Birmingham have demonstrated with their recent recovery from New Year disappointment.
For Birmingham manager and his players, Saturday's match presents a golden opportunity to close the gap on the play-off positions against opponents weakened by circumstances beyond their control. Meanwhile, Stoke must somehow navigate this personnel crisis while maintaining their own aspirations in the upper reaches of the table.
The stage is set for a compelling encounter at St Andrew's, where Birmingham's renewed optimism will collide with Stoke's resilience in the face of adversity. How both teams adapt to these contrasting circumstances could prove decisive in shaping their respective seasons as the Championship promotion race continues to deliver unexpected developments.
