Aitor Karanka's side can move to within one win of the Premier League with a positive result at St Andrew's
Middlesbrough FC will move top of the Championship table and lay down a marker to Burnley and Brighton with a win at Birmingham City tonight.
A draw will actually be enough to see Aitor Karanka's side clamber to the summit, with the Clarets and Seagulls set to play on Bank Holiday Monday.
All three teams are tied on 87 points with only two games remaining, and Boro know a win at St Andrew's - a recent house of pain - will see them move to within touching distance of the Premier League.
With Brighton set to come to the Riverside next Saturday, Boro know nothing will be decided this evening - but the Teessiders will be keen to get back to winning ways after two straight draws.
Boro have only won once at St Andrew’s since 1978 - with that anomaly coming in August 2005 when Mark Viduka’s brace inspired the team to a 3-0 success.
Since then, it’s five without a win there - and the history books make pretty glum reading in England’s second city. In total, it’s one victory in 18 for Boro at Birmingham.
Can Aitor Karanka end another Boro away day hoodoo? Here's a preview ahead of tonight's 7.45pm kick-off.
Likely line-ups
Team news - Doubt over George Friend
Boro will wait until the eleventh hour to make a decision on full-back George Friend.
The left-back was forced to sit out of Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Ipswich due to a hamstring injury, which he picked up at Turf Moor on April 19.
- Team selector Pick your Boro XI to face Birmingham
Should Friend be unable to feature tonight, Ritchie De Laet could again deputise.
Birmingham goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak (broken nose) is doubtful, along with full-back Paul Caddis (calf).
Jon Toral (hamstring) and Jacques Maghoma (ankle) are definitely out.
Aitor Karanka on Birmingham - 'Nobody gives us an easy game'
"It’s difficult because nobody gives us an easy game.
“We played against Bolton who were playing for nothing and it was difficult, we played against Ipswich and they celebrated the point like they’d won a final.
“The end to the season can’t disguise what a good job (Birmingham manager) Gary Rowett has done, but it’s in our hands and we have to win.
“We’ve done nothing yet. Hopefully one day I’ll be able to say my feelings (about what promotion would mean), but at the moment I’ve done nothing yet.
“We have to keep going and look forward to the game on Friday. We’re in a good position and I’m really proud to be here.
“To play on Friday and win, then rest for eight days knowing we’ve won our game and that promotion is in our hands would be nice.”
Our verdict - Jonathon Taylor - 'It's now about momentum'
"In a strange way, tonight’s game at St Andrew’s won’t be decisive in the race for automatic promotion.
“Should Boro win, then it would put them in the perfect position to finish the job against Brighton next weekend.
“But should Aitor Karanka’s side drop points, they would still get a second bite of the cherry when the Seagulls arrive at the Riverside in eight days’ time.
“However, it’s now about momentum. Although Boro have played well of late, Karanka won’t want his side to go into a must-win game against Brighton on the back of three draws.”
Boro form guide - 'This is a team in decent nick'
Boro are unbeaten in eight matches since the farce at Charlton, winning six.
But it’s two straight draws in the Championship - after being pegged back in the last minute at Burnley, before Saturday’s stalemate with Ipswich at the Riverside.
That run of form leaves Boro in a three-way tie at the top of the division, with two matches remaining.
Away from the Riverside, Boro have won only two of their last six - but are unbeaten in their last three - winning at Bolton and QPR, and drawing at Turf Moor.
So this is a Boro team in decent nick, and the draw with Ipswich last weekend was the first time in seven that Aitor Karanka’s side failed to find the target.
Earlier in the campaign, Boro were held to a goalless draw with Birmingham at the Riverside.
Five things about Birmingham City
1. They were European pioneers. When most English clubs ignored new-fangled continental competition, City were regulars in the Inter Cities Fair Cup from 1955 onwards. In 1960 and 1961 they reached the final and drew the first legs before losing to first Barcelona then Roma.
2. Birmingham flirted with a promotion push earlier this season and were as high as second in the table before Christmas - but couldn’t sustain it.
3. Former Boro shot-stopper Kevin Poole is City’s goalkeeping coach. Until last year he was at Burton in the same job – and still registered as a player at the age of 50.
4. Boro will be up against a couple of familiar faces at St Andrew’s tonight, with former players Jonathan Grounds and Diego Fabbrini, pictured, both in contention to start for Gary Rowett’s side.
5. In 2011, City pulled off a bittersweet double. They combined victory in the League Cup – they defeated Arsenal 2–1 with goals from Nikola Žigic and Obafemi Martins to secure qualification for the Europa League – with a sorry relegation back to the Championship.
View from the opposition - Brian Dick, Birmingham Mail
"The fact that the new fan zone, the Tilton Alliance, will be launched on the night should make sure the Birmingham players don’t switch off and start thinking about their holidays.
"The supporters will demand the team signs off their home campaign in style.
“Overall the team has done well under Gary Rowett and the general feeling is achieving a top six finish was too much of a stretch this season.
"It’s going to be a big summer for City and Rowett is already dropping hints that he wants support in the transfer market. If that happens there’s every chance the club will kick on again next season.”
Fancy a flutter - Jonathan Grounds for the 'typical Boro' bet
Aitor Karanka’s side are overwhelming favourites to kick-off the weekend’s action with all three points at Birmingham.
Sky Bet have Boro as a 4/7 shout to win at St Andrew’s, while the draw is 14/5 and a Birmingham upset is 5/1.
Last season, ten-man Boro drew 1-1 at Birmingham after Dimi Konstantopoulos’ dismissal, and that’s a 6/1 offering this time around.
But those feeling confident can get better value than that. Boro to win - and both Clayton Donaldson and Jordan Rhodes to score - is available at 16/1.
Ex-Boro boy Diego Fabbrini is 14/1 to grab his first Blues goal against former club Boro, while Jonathan Grounds - another former player - is 66/1. That’s your ‘typical Boro’ bet.
Who's the man in the middle?
Simon Hooper will be in charge of Boro’s critical Championship clash with Birmingham tonight.
The Wiltshire official also took charge of the 3-2 victory at QPR, while he also officiated the FA Cup defeat to Burnley in January.
Stat attack
LAST WIN
Home: Aug 9, 2014, 2-0
Away: Aug 23, 2005, 3-0
LAST DRAW
Home: Dec 12, 2015, 0-0
Away: Feb 18, 2015, 1-1
LAST DEFEAT
Home: Mar 16, 2013, 0-1
Away: Nov 30, 2012, 2-3
Players to wear both shirts
The following have played for both Boro and Birmingham: Marcus Bent, Wallace Clark, Jack Elkes, Edmund Eyre, Diego Fabbrini, John Fall, Caleb Folan, Curtis Fleming, Jack Hall, Jonathan Grounds , Allan Johnston, Cameron Jerome, Marlon King, Lewis Lodge, Alan Miller, David Murphy, Dick Neal, Bryan Orritt, Jay O’Shea, Stuart Parnaby, Fred Pentland, Jamie Pollock, Kevin Poole, Franck Queudrue, Martin Russell, Geoff Scott, George Smith, Martin Thomas, Steve Vickers, Johnny Vincent, Fred Wilcox, Jimmy Windridge.
Coaching connections: Malcolm Beard, Jim Blyth, Jamie Clapham, Terry Cooper, Garry Pendrey, Jim Smith, Bruce Rioch, Colin Todd, David Geddis.
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário