The Rams play-off hopes have disintegrated and now will look to at least improve on lasts season. With below par performances in and injuries to key players – a mid table finish will require a much improved performance. 

Birmingham City Derby County

St. Andrews Stadium

3:00pm – Saturday March 3rd

Birmingham: 5th – W, D, D, W, L

Derby: 15th – L, D, L, L, L

Previous match: Derby County 2 vs. 1 Birmingham

Start of the season, August this year, a subplot of “Save Our Rail Industry”.

Enthusiasm and expectation runs through the crowd as only a fresh start can do.

Barely a minute gone and Kevin Kilbane is grappled in the area, a stick on penalty, not given by the referee. Howls of derision from the fans.

On the break, Curtis Davies scores, we trail, but like Chumbawamba having been knocked down we get up again.

Ben Davies floats a free kick into the path of Jason Shackell, a nod later we are level and jumping for joy.

Steve Davies rifles in a second and the Rams run Birmingham ragged, Lee Croft a revelation on the wing, Jamie Ward rattling the crossbar.

A fitting way to start a season that promised so much.

The Teams:

Birmingham:

Keith Fahey will be assessed before the game as he is carrying a groin strain.

Midfielder Guirane N'Daw is likely to be back in the squad after shaking off a hamstring injury while skipper Stephen Carr will miss with a knee injury.

Peter Ramage and Caleb Folan could get a debut after recently signing with the Blues while striker Erik Huseklepp and Andros Townsend could also feature.

Manager's View:

Chris Hughton wants a response from his team after losing their first in 15:

“You can’t go through a season without having disappointments,” said Hughton. “I didn’t think we played well enough against Forest, but I still thought we would get something from the game. We’re a good team; we’ve been on a really good run.”

“What happens with any good run that ends, any disappointment, you need to show character, pick yourselves up and go again. Fortunately for us, which is nice, we have had no game midweek for the first time in a long time. And it will be probably the only time right through to the end of the season.”

“So it’s been about getting a good rest, a good recovery and then preparing to go again for the next one.”

Derby

Nigel Clough is unlikely to risk playing Jamie Ward after he strained his thigh while training with Northern Ireland. He missed the International match and will likely miss this clash as well.

Wards absence would open the door for Steve Davies or Theo Robinson as one of those two as well as Nathan Tyson would fill the left midfield and strikers positions.

Craig Bryson's is still battling an Achilles injury but Clough has stated he believes the Rams midfielder should be ok for the trip to St Andrews.

John Brayford's is out for the season and although Paul Green has deputised in recent matches, he may move back into the midfield which would allow Tom Naylor to make his first start for the Rams.

Manager’s View

Hopes to inflict a second consecutive defeat on leagues form team:

"August seems like a long time ago, Birmingham is not the same team we played on the opening day of the season".

"They have been on a terrific run recently, 15 games unbeaten I think it was, before losing at home to Nottingham Forest last week. Hopefully that has dented their confidence a bit. Forest went there not on the best of runs and we haven't scored for a while so hopefully we can go there and have a go at them as well."

I.Saw’s Match Preview:

A trip to Birmingham City looming, an overwhelming feeling of being resigned to another pointless Saturday at St Andrews persists. But why?

Is it that we face a fear of a high flying fifth in the table team?

Are we worried by the Blues record of only losing once at home and that last week to the Forest?

Or should we look more inwardly? Is it the comments made by our manager that plays down the fans expectations, where we ask.... is the fire, the desire, the passion and the heart?

Might it be that our cloth having being cut and cut is now threadbare?

Why are we content to stumble along the pathway of mediocrity, to mumble about injuries, lack of squad depth and Financial Fair Play? Have we all become so accustomed to accepting second best?

No easy answers perhaps but come three O’clock on the third we will be behind the team, supporting, encouraging, screaming and more.

We’re supporters. It’s what we do. Up the Rams!

I.Saw's Brum Player To Watch:

Marlon King, off the field everything you despise, on the field a real handful.

I. Saw’s Score Prediction:

 Birmingham 0 Rams 1

Photo: Action Images

Derby County Polls