Birmingham v Bristol City preview
Friday 11 August 2017 21:05, UK
Birmingham will once again be without striker Lukas Jutkiewicz as they attempt to bounce back from their opening day Sky Bet Championship defeat at Ipswich.
Jutkiewicz continues to nurse a calf problem and will not be risked, nor will defender Cheick Keita with his recovery from a groin problem ongoing.
Captain Paul Robinson returned from suspension for Tuesday night's 5-1 Carabao Cup demolition of Crawley and will be hoping for a first taste of league action in the new campaign.
Robinson's inclusion was one of five changes to the side which started at Portman Road as David Stockdale, Michael Morrison, Cheickh Ndoye, Craig Gardner and Clayton Donaldson made way, and they will all be looking to resume.
Bristol City central defender Aden Flint, the subject of two failed Birmingham bids, is unlikely to be in the Robins squad after being omitted from the Carabao Cup win against Plymouth in midweek.
However, City could include Swedish winger Niclas Eliasson for the first time.
Eliasson signed from Norrkoping on Wednesday and Robins boss Lee Johnson will name the Under-21 international in his squad if City receive international clearance in time.
Strikers Milan Djuric and Matty Taylor remain sidelined by groin injuries as the Robins seek to add to the eight goals scored in their opening two league and cup games.
Opta stats
The Blues are unbeaten in their last 13 leagues games against Bristol City, winning 10, including each of the last three at St. Andrew's.
The Robins have scored just four goals in their last nine Championship games against Birmingham, failing to score on seven of those occasions.
Clayton Donaldson has scored four goals in his last five league starts against Bristol City, including a hat-trick for the Blues in September 2015.
Birmingham forward Che Adams has netted in both of his Championship appearances against Bristol City, scoring both home and away in 2016-17.
Bristol City have won five of their last seven league matches, losing only once in this run (D1), to Birmingham on the final day of 2016-17.
On opening weekend, Bristol City had 10 shots on target in the first 35 minutes against Barnsley (3-1 win and 11 shots on target in total), no other Championship side mustered more than six.
