English Premier League action resumes on Saturday, 16th of April, 2011, with Birmingham City hosting Sunderland in their crucial relegation decisive encounter. Both teams have seen a dip in their form over the past month, thus, this encounter
gains more importance. Let’s take a look at how the Birmingham Blues might line up to tackle the offensive threat of the Black Cats...
Birmingham City
Alex McLeish’s team is 16th in the English Premier League at the moment. With the end of the Premier League season approaching thick and fast, given Birmingham’s close proximity to the relegation zone in the Premier League table, McLeish has a
massive task at his hands if he wants to secure another season of Premier League football for his club. Birmingham drew their last league encounter against Blackburn Rovers by a score line of 1-1 and out of their last five competitive fixtures, Birmingham
City has won only one, lost two and drawn two.
Earlier in the season, Birmingham City met Sunderland in the second week of August 2010 but that tie ended in a 2-2 draw. The Carling Cup winners are three points above the relegation zone as the 18th placed West Ham United currently have 32 points
in comparison to Birmingham’s tally of 35.
Sunderland
Steve Bruce’s Sunderland is free falling in the English Premier League at the moment. In the first half of the season, the Black Cats were real contenders for a Europa League spot but now they will be considered lucky if they are not involved in an epic
relegation battle. Perhaps the only fact of consolation for the Tyneside club is that their slip has come near the end of the English Premier League season, with only six matches left.
Out of their previous five competitive fixtures, Sunderland have lost four and drawn one. This woeful run of form has seen them slip to the 13th place in the English Premier League table. Fortunately, the Black Cats are six points above the relegation
zone but two losses in a row coupled with other unfortunate results can make them fall into the relegation zone, sooner rather than later.
Team News
Birmingham has several injury troubles ahead of their tie against Sunderland. Alex McLeish will be without the likes of Mathew Taylor, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/James-McFadden-c17705 and Steve Dann. All these players are out for at least one more week.
Expected Birmingham line up: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Kevin-Phillips-c20763
On the other hand, Sunderland will be without http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Titus-Bramble-c35166 is also out of action for the Black Cats as the former Newcastle defender is recovering from a knee injury. Frazier Campbell is
also unavailable for selection due to his knee problems.
Expected Sunderland line up: Simon Mignolet, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Kieran-Richardson-c20946, Ahmed Al
Elmohamady, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Asamoah-Gyan-c6791
Key Players
Birmingham’s key player will be Lee Bowyer. The veteran midfielder who used to play for Newcastle United has been an integral part of their Premier League season so far. He was instrumental in their win over Arsenal in the Carling Cup final and scored in
Birmingham’s 1-1 draw with Blackburn http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rovers-c40385 in their latest Premier League fixture.
Alternatively, Danny Welbeck will be Sunderland’s main star on Saturday afternoon at Saint Andrew’s Stadium. The http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749 international forward has had a patchy run of form ever since his return from injury in the second half of the Premier League season
but he has already netted six goals despite his fitness issues.
Prediction
It is anticipated that Sunderland’s winless run will continue with a draw against Birmingham City. The Blues are fighting for their life near the relegation zone so they are the favourites heading into this match but Sunderland’s quality in attack might
prove to be a balancing factor on Saturday. Prediction: 1-1
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