Source: FOOTYMAD
Npower Championship Matchday Eight: Birmingham City v Barnsley
Match Preview Team News Just when Barnsley’s injury woes looked like they were easing an illness bug has struck that camp that leaves The Reds, according to manager Keith Hill “probably worse off than last week” The gaffer has refused to name who has been struck by the bug but defender Stephen Foster missed training on Thursday so must be a huge doubt for tomorrow’s trip to the Second City. Ricardo Vaz Te and Nathan Doyle are both fully fit after coming off the bench in last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Watford and Matty Done has a slight chance of recovering from his hamstring strain that has sidelined him for the last two weeks. Danny Haynes is also facing a race against time to be fit after injuring himself in the warm-up last weekend. Craig Davies, Miles Addison, Goran Lovre and Reuben Noble-Lazarus all remain on the treatment table. Likely Lineup: Luke Steele Jay McEveley Scott Wiseman Bobby Hassell Jim McNulty Jacob Butterfield David Perkins Jim O’Brien Cameron Park Danny Drinkwater Andy Gray Head To Head Last Six Birmingham v Barnsley results: 10/3/09 Barnsley 1-1 Birmingham (Championship) 23/8/08 Birmingham 2-0 Barnsley (Championship) 9/4/07 Barnsley 1-0 Birmingham (Championship) 11/11/06 Birmingham 2-0 Barnsley (Championship) 16/2/02 Birmingham 1-0 Barnsley (Division One) 13/10/01 Barnsley 1-3 Birmingham (Division One) Overall Record: Birmingham Wins: 34 Barnsley Wins: 20 Draws: 17 Birmingham Goals: 113 Barnsley Goals: 89 At Birmingham (4 at Muntz Street when Birmingham were known as Small Heath, 31 at St Andrews Stadium) Birmingham Wins: 19 Barnsley Wins: 8 Draws: 8 Birmingham Goals: 56 Barnsley Goals: 35 This Season Last six 2011-2012 results: 21/9/11 Manchester City 2-0 Birmingham (League Cup) 18/9/11 Southampton 4–1 Birmingham (Championship) 15/9/11 Birmingham 1-3 Braga (Europa League) 11/9/11 Birmingham 3-0 Millwall (Championship) 28/8/11 Watford 2-2 Birmingham (Championship) 25/8/11 Birmingham 3-0 Nacional (Europa League) W: 2 D: 1 L: 3 F: 10 A: 11 GD: -1 Points: 7 Barnsley: 17/9/11 Barnsley 1-1 Watford (Championship) 10/9/11 Barnsley 1–1 Leicester (Championship) 27/8/11 Millwall 0-0 Barnsley (Championship) 20/8/11 Reading 1-2 Barnsley (Championship) 16/8/11 Barnsley 1-3 Middlesbrough (Championship) 13/8/11 Barnsley 0-1 Southampton (Championship) W: 1 D: 3 L: 2 F: 5 A: 7 GD: -2 Points: 6 Interesting Stats Something has to give this weekend as Birmingham’s 100% home start comes up against Barnsley’s unbeaten away record. The Blues two wins out of two at St Andrews have come without a goal being scored, whilst The Reds defence has been breached just once away from Oakwell and that was a penalty. Victory for the Blues tomorrow would be the first time they will have won their first three home games since the 2008-2009 season, whilst if Barnsley make it four without defeat on the road it will be their best away start since 1978-1979 when it took until their seventh Fourth Division away game. Barnsley were promoted at the end of that season. Keeping Barnsley’s away record intact will not be easy as St Andrews Stadium is not a happy hunting ground, and The Reds have not won there since that memorable 4-0 Play-Off Semi-Final success in 2000 and have won only eight of 35 visits to the Second City. Birmingham have won five of the last six meetings there and have lost just one of the last nine. Birmingham though are looking to end a run of three straight defeats in all competitions. The last time they lost four in a row was September/October 2009. Barnsley are unbeaten in four matches- three wins and a draw. Avoiding defeat tomorrow would be the first time they had gone five without losing since November last year. Barnsley though bear a depressing statistic- they have won just four of their last 24 league games. Mad Sites www.birminghamcity-mad.co.uk www.barnsley-mad.co.uk Official Sites www.bcfc.com www.barnsleyfc.co.uk Other Fixtures Bristol City v Hull, 15:00 Burnley v Southampton, 15:00 Coventry v Reading, 15:00 Derby v Millwall, 15:00 Doncaster v Crystal Palace, 15:00 Middlesbrough v Ipswich, 15:00 Portsmouth v Blackpool, 15:00 West Ham v Peterborough, 15:00 Watford v Nott'm Forest, 17:15 Sunday, 25 September 2011 Cardiff v Leicester, 13:15
