The Championship rollercoaster continues this Tuesday night as Birmingham City prepare to host Blackburn Rovers in a pivotal midweek fixture at St. Andrew’s. This isn’t just another game; it’s a test of character for two sides looking to reverse recent fortunes and climb the league table. Mostbet brings you an exclusive, in-depth tactical preview of what promises to be a fascinating encounter.
Team News and Selection Headaches
The team sheets will tell a crucial part of the story for this clash. Birmingham‘s midfield engine room will be significantly weakened by the absence of the suspended Ivan Sunjic. The Croatian enforcer picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in the narrow defeat to Leeds, forcing a one-match ban. His tenacity and ball-winning abilities in the center of the park will be sorely missed by manager Pep Clotet.
In more positive news for the Blues, winger Jefferson Montero is in contention to feature after overcoming a thigh injury that has sidelined him since his full debut against Stoke in August. His potential return offers a much-needed injection of pace and creativity out wide. However, new signing Josh McEachran is still building his match fitness, and long-term absentee Maikel Kieftenbeld (knee) remains unavailable.
For Blackburn, all eyes are on the fitness and involvement of German playmaker Lewis Holtby. The former Tottenham man was the standout performer in Rovers’ 2-2 draw with Huddersfield, contributing a goal and an assist on his full debut. However, boss Tony Mowbray has a delicate decision to make. Holtby was substituted after 70 minutes, and Mowbray has been candid about the 29-year-old not yet being ready for a full 90 minutes. Managing his minutes will be key.
The defensive department remains a concern for Blackburn. Joe Grayson (hamstring) and Sam Hart (patella) are definitely out, while Dominic Samuel faces a late fitness test on a groin strain. The season-ending knee injury to Greg Cunningham and the couple of months on the sidelines for Darragh Lenihan continue to stretch Rovers’ defensive resources thin.
A Tale of Two Form Guides
Recent results make for grim reading for both sets of supporters, though the underlying performances might tell a slightly different story.
Birmingham‘s early-season promise under Pep Clotet has evaporated over the past month. The Blues are mired in a miserable run of form, having lost four of their last five Championship outings. The sequence started with a 1-0 home loss to Preston, followed by a disappointing 3-2 defeat at Derby and a 1-0 loss at struggling Wigan. A brief flicker of hope emerged with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough before the international break, but that was swiftly extinguished by another 1-0 defeat, this time at the hands of league leaders Leeds. The lack of goals is becoming a serious concern.
Fran Villalba’s celebration against Boro was a rare bright spot in a difficult period for Birmingham.
Blackburn’s results have been equally poor, but their performances have offered more cause for optimism for their fans. The 2-2 draw with Huddersfield at the weekend showcased spells of exhilarating attacking football, orchestrated largely by the influential Holtby. Even in the 4-2 defeat away at QPR, Rovers showed resilience with a much-improved second-half display. This patch of form follows a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest and a concerning 2-1 home loss to Luton Town. The potential is there, but converting promising displays into three points is the challenge for Mowbray.
The Mostbet Tactical Focus: The Lewis Holtby Effect
The major talking point heading into this fixture is the impact of Lewis Holtby. His arrival at Ewood Park on a free transfer in September was seen as a major coup, and his full debut against Huddersfield provided a glimpse of why. For years, Holtby was the archetypal ‘nearly man’ in English football. Highly rated during his time in the Bundesliga with Schalke, his moves to Tottenham and later Fulham failed to deliver on their initial promise.
His subsequent five-year spell with Hamburg in Germany’s second tier was a redemption arc, rebuilding his confidence and reaffirming his status as a technically gifted playmaker. So beloved was he that fan petitions were started to prevent his release in the summer. His eventual signing by Tony Mowbray has given Blackburn a genuine creative force in the final third.
His understanding with star man Bradley Dack, who publicly praised Holtby’s technical ability and passing range after the Huddersfield game, could become one of the most potent partnerships in the Championship. The key for Mowbray is to find a way to integrate Holtby’s quality without overexerting him, likely meaning another impactful cameo rather than a full start. How Birmingham‘s weakened midfield copes with his movement and invention could decide the match.
Historical Context and Key Battles
The history books suggest a tight affair is on the cards. Five of the last seven league meetings between these two sides have ended all square, with just one win apiece in the other two fixtures. Blackburn’s record at St. Andrew’s is particularly poor; they have won just one of their last 11 league visits to Birmingham, a 4-2 victory back in April 2014.
Two veteran strikers also have a point to prove. Blackburn’s Danny Graham has a phenomenal record against Birmingham, finding the net in five of his six league appearances against them for a total of five goals. He will be licking his lips at the prospect of facing a defense that has looked vulnerable. On the other side, Birmingham’s target man Lukas Jutkiewicz has been directly involved in six goals in just seven league starts against Rovers (4 goals, 2 assists). The battle between these two physical forwards and the opposing center-backs will be a bruising, old-school Championship duel.
Mostbet Match Prediction
This is a notoriously difficult match to call. Birmingham‘s home form has been relatively solid despite their overall slump, losing just one of their last nine Championship games at St. Andrew’s. However, the absence of Ivan Sunjic robs them of crucial midfield steel.
Blackburn, buoyed by the Holtby effect, carry a genuine threat but remain defensively fragile and prone to errors. Tony Mowbray’s personal record away at Birmingham is also poor, having never won an away league match against them with three different clubs.
All factors considered, a score draw seems the most likely outcome. Both teams have clear weaknesses but also possess the attacking players to hurt each other. A point apiece would do little to alleviate the growing pressure on either manager but would reflect the evenly-matched nature of this Championship contest.
Final Score Prediction: Birmingham 1 – 1 Blackburn
What are your predictions for this Championship clash? Do you think Lewis Holtby will be the difference-maker, or can Birmingham overcome their poor form to secure a vital home win? Share your thoughts and join the conversation on Mostbet.
