Birmingham City vs Bolton Wanderers - Preview

[bcfcjames]

The tedium of the International break is over and supporters can now turn their attention back to domestic matters. Birmingham City will be looking to continue their recent resurgence as they host basement club Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.

Bolton dispensed with the services of Dougie Freedman after the Scot was unable to halt the slide of the Lancashire club. They have turned to the former Celtic manager Neil Lennon to revive their fortunes. Bolton is Lennons first foray into management in England and the man from County Amagh could not have asked for a tougher task. Wanderers if reports are to be believed are saddled with almost £170m debt and facing a rebellion from their own fans demanding the removal of long serving chairman Phil Gartside.

Birmingham have picked up 4 points from the last 6 available and will be looking to record an all to rare home victory on Saturday. Blues fans will likely never forget the last meeting with Bolton after a Paul Caddis 94th minute equaliser sent the brummie nation into raptures as City dragged themselves away from League One securing Championship survival at the last possible moment. A clearly emotional Lee Clark launched his considerable frame into the away section in a moment that certainly ranks among the most dramatic I have ever witnessed in a football stadium.

Birmingham will be looking to take maximum points from this fixture and they are boosted by the return to fitness of striker Lee Novak and full back Neal Eardley both are named in the matchday squad. Winger Mark Duffy misses out through injury.

Probable Birmingham line up: 4-2-3-1 Randolph - Caddis Edgar Robinson Grounds - Reilly Davis - Cotterill Gleeson Gray - Donaldson

Lennon has been talking up young striker Max Clayton in the build up to the match but will still be getting to know the strengths and weaknesses of his squad. The Trotters have a lot of injuries at present and David Wheater, Liam Trotter, and Mark Davies will all miss the trip to the Midlands.

Probable Bolton line up: 4-5-1 Lonergan - Herd Mills Ream McNaughton - Lee Spearing Danns Pratley Clayton - Beckford

I expect Birmingham to finally deliver a performance at home and a result to match. Prediction 2-1 Birmingham

 

[Saddlerrad]

Well, well, well this 1-0 defeat lead to Lee Clarke being dismissed this afternoon. I mean he's had a lot to deal with in his time at Birmingham but THAT home record must be one of the worst in professional football throughout Europe. Terrible.