Birmingham v Fulham
A cliché filled must win, six pointer, do anything to win match at St Andrews. The Blues have just one win so far this season, but with seven points are fairing better than opponents Fulham who have just a single point from their opening eight games.
Birmingham boss Lee Clark will be feeling the pressure. After avoiding relegation last season with virtually the last kick of the season, the Blues board will not want to test their luck for a second time. Without a win in six and just two points above the bottom three is hardly where Clark would have wanted to be as we approach the close of September. There are problems at both ends for Birmingham. Having scored just seven goals in their eight games and conceding twice as many is a recipe for relegation. Despite scoring not that many goals the Blues have scored in all but three of there games and these were the three games to date that they have lost in the league. With trips to Millwall and Charlton to come in the next seven days it is vital that Birmingham make to most of home advantage this weekend.
Fulham are yet to appoint a replacement for Felix Magath and they are unlikely to name a new boss before the weekend’s game. Chris Hughton is the bookies favourite at this stage and an appointment of a new boss should be expected in the next week. On the pitch Fulham’s Capital One Cup success continued with a win over Doncaster. With just one win in the league, the cup has offered a helpful distraction for fans and players and maybe they can take the confidence from the win into the league before they get left behind at the foot of the Championship table. Costa Rican international Brian Ruiz scored the opener in midweek and if he can find some form for the Cottagers they should be able to turn things around with plenty of points still up for grabs. Ruiz is this game’s key man.
Score prediction: 3-1 Fulham win
