Are Birmingham a different proposition now?

With Birmingham playing their last game in mid-week against Blackburn Rovers without a permanent in place they put up a spirited performance away from home. A 1-0 defeat at Blackburn Rovers is not a bad showing and the Blues were well in that game and certainly carried the fight to Blackburn with 18 shots during the match, almost scoring in extra time. when Andrew Shinnie hit the bar! They also had Neal Eardley sent off after 51 minutes for a second yellow card, so they were playing with 10-men for much of the match. It is at St Andrews though where they have struggled, some 24 games I believe with just the one win at home. That form has to turn for them some time or they will be relegated, and AFCB can't take them lightly on Saturday as the first thing they will want to do is get that home form going.

I get the feeling that St Andrews will be packed with Blues fans on Saturday.

Demarai Gray and Clayton Donaldson led the line for them at Blackburn. It appears that Wes Thomas has just been moved on to the bench of late, but he could well be used against AFCB with his probably eagerness to score against a former team. With Stephen Gleeson, David Coterrill and Paul Caddis in their team, they have more than enough quality in their team to make it really difficult for the Cherries on their day.

As always an early goal is what Eddie Howe will be after, and listening to the way the team has been picked of late he will name an unchanged side, unless their have been any knocks in mid-week. The Cherries have to find away of quelling the renewed belief in the Birmingham side though who will be looking to restore some pride, and to show their fans that life can be brighter after the loss of Lee Clark. Whether Lee was part of the problem or fighting insurmountable odds is what Birmingham fans will not really find out for quite a few games yet, but I expect there is a lot of things that need to change to help the team play better more often and AFCB will hope to catch them before they can resolve their home form problems.

Enjoy the game all of you on the way to Birmingham tomorrow.

So I would say that yes, AFCB now have a harder game against Birmingham than they might have done. That is no disrespect for Lee Clark, but just acceptance that teams often do better when they have been in a bad spell and a manager is replaced. Still, AFCB can't look at what is happening at another team and use it as an excuse if they don't get a result. The Cherries have to believe that they can extend their winning run and beat whatever side is in front of them if they are to climb towards the top of this league.

Birmingham Home Form:
DDLLL

AFCB Away Form:
LDDLW

We have a Rival Lines this afternoon with the Often Partisan blog to preview the Birmingham v AFCB match so make sure you check out Cherry Chimes later for the latest on the opposition.