Premier League Match Preview: Birmingham City vs. Manchester City
This Premier League fixture, which will be hosted by Birmingham City at St. Andrews is Manchester City’s third game in the Midlands region. The Citizens will be anxious to acquire all three points on Wednesday.
After putting up a poor performance in a league game away to Aston Villa and an FA Cup match against Notts County, the Blues will be hoping for a swift change in fortunes. Roberto Martinez’s men lost against Villa and then surprisingly
drew with Notts County.
It was City’s new record signing, Edin Dzeko who scooped up a point for his side after they were trailing behind in their FA Cup match against their League One opposition. The Bosnian striker will be looking to prove his worth
and gain his first League goal in this mid-week clash. City currently sit on the third spot, with a four-point lead above champions http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 in the points table.
Mancini’s team will be eager to get its title bid back on track, and Dzeko, who managed 22 goals while playing from Wolfsburg, will be looking to outdo his former partner http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Obafemi-Martins-c28273. Martins scored six times for Wolfsburg
during the 2009-10 season and later moved to the Russian outfit, Rubin Kazan. After running out of luck in Tatary, the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Nigeria-c2970 International switched to Birmingham City.
Birmingham manager, Alex McLeish is hoping Martins can rescue his side from niggling relegation fears, as Blues lie only one spot above the drop zone in the 17th place. Blues have performed well in other competitions
in this season, having achieved a spot in the last 16 of the FA Cup competition. They are the finalists in the Carling Cup, but will need to turn their attention towards survival in the league if they want to play in the top flight of the upcoming season.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Joe-Hart-c18699 is one man, who will be cheered by both sides’ fans. The Manchester City goalkeeper managed to sustain 10 clean sheets during his 36 Premier League outings for the Birmingham side during last season, while on loan from
the Sky Blues. The http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749 international deserves a warm welcome at St. Andrews, having not conceded a single goal in seven games at the stadium.
Birmingham City have played 22 games in the league, whereas the visitors have played just two games less in this season so far. The Blues have obtained 23 points, whereas Mancini’s men have managed to score 45 points. McLeish’s
side has won four games and drawn 11 games, as compared to their opponent’s 13 wins and six draws. The Sky Blues have faced five losses, with their opposition losing seven fixtures. Birmingham scored 21 goals and allowed 10 more goals to be scored against
them thus far. Meanwhile, Mancini’s men have a far superior record; having scored 37 goals and conceded 20 league goals, although their lack of discipline is worrying. The Sky Blues have received 48 yellow cards and five red cards in this season. Birmingham
are comparatively tamer, with 33 yellow cards and just one red card under their belt.
Alex McLeish may choose to field his new players Martins and Curt Davies for this fixture. Among the players who may start for the home side are http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Craig-Gardner-c9475, after the trio was rested for the
previous weekend’s fixture.
Manchester City will assess striker Carlos Tevez’s fitness, as the Argentinean is doubtful for this fixture due to a back injury. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Adam-Johnson-c3537 with an ankle injury.
Thus, both players will be unable to play tonight.
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