Birmingham V Wigan: Reversal Of Form

Birmingham City, fair play to them, have been everybody's surprise team of the year - they have managed some pretty incredible results and this is down to the hard work of Alex McLeish and he made some decent signings during both windows where he had a sizeable chunk of money to play with. In recent weeks, Birmingham's form has been slightly patchy but its not been anything that captures the eye in terms of form waining.

Saint Andrews has been turned into a fortress and not even the likes of Chelsea or Manchester United could turn Alex's team over so the very notion that Wigan could turn them over sounds a bit of a big ask from a team whose form has been the reverse of Birmingham's and add to that Wigan have failed to win at Saint Andrews and we could all be in for a long afternoon and furthermore, if Birmingham win today, could a late push for Europe still be on the cards? I think it'd be nice to see something a bit different in the league and hallelujah to the day when we finally see a different top four. There has been flashes of it in recent years but unfortunately its the same old story of late.

This game will be pivotal to Birmingham to make a very late push for Europe. I don't think they'll do it but you never know and if they don't, they'll still finish respectably which will be of big relief to Alex McLeish, the team and the fans, who have had to endure their own fair share of heartache in recent years.

For Wigan, well, their hopes lie in the fact that Birmingham have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last few games and I think that if Birmingham don't control proceedings early, an early sucker punch could be on the cards for the home team. I am concerned because Wigan have never won on this ground but then, neither had Birmingham on ours until recently and its time to create a second piece of history.

Despite the fact Birmingham are unbeaten at home against Wigan and have only lost at Saint Andrews twice, I do feel a point would be a good result for Wigan as it almost keeps their point a game tally in check.

I'm going to stick my neck out for a hard earned draw here.

ROB'S PREDICTION
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Birmingham have faltered of late and I think that Roberto's team could be looking for a response from last weeks' forgettable showing.

Birmingham 1 Wigan 1

ROB'S FINAL THOUGHT
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I think that if we can get a result today at Saint Andrews, we can finally move on and get some of our season back and there's lots of twists and turns to come yet.

Its the big Yorkshire derby today so come on Huddersfield!

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