Again Birmingham City’s Boss Made Another Change Ahead Of Northampton “Clash”

Our writers agree on Birmingham City XI for Northampton as two changes made

Birmingham City have shifted their focus back to League One after two cup victories last week. Blues routed Fulham’s under-21s 7-1 in their final Bristol Street Motors Trophy group game before defeating Sutton United in the FA Cup first round on Sunday.

Northampton Town are Blues’ next League One opponent at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park. The Cobblers are 18th in the table after an indifferent start to the season under Jon Brady.

Blues are unbeaten on home turf and have won their last five League One fixtures in B9. Chris Davies’ side will hope to reclaim top spot with a win after Wycombe leapfrogged them in midweek.

Alex Dicken

There aren’t many selection dilemmas for Chris Davies to ponder right now. The obvious one will come at centre-back if Krystian Bielik is fit to return. Despite Ben Davies’ strong form, Bielik is the team’s captain and will surely reclaim his spot next to Christoph Klarer. Blues won’t lose anything aerially with Bielik as, if not more, commanding than Davies in the air.

Northampton have scored the fewest goals from open play in League One, but they rank third for set piece goals – no prizes for guessing their route to goal on Saturday.

The only other decision comes in attack where it seems to be Luke Harris, Alfie May or Lyndon Dykes in support of Jay Stansfield. Davies likes Harris and the Fulham loanee is the natural fit to play off Stansfield, as he did against Sutton, but May’s predatory instincts will be needed against a Northampton side expected to sit deep in a low block.

(4-2-3-1): Allsop; Laird, Klarer, Bielik, Cochrane; Paik, Iwata; Willumsson, May, Anderson; Stansfield

Brian Dick

Davies could be presented with a similar challenge to the Sutton game if Northampton arrive, sit deep and play for set-pieces and counter-attacks. So, as tempting as it is to unleash Ayumu Yokoyama I can’t honestly predict that’s what the Blues manager will do.

Instead he’ll probably go for his first choices in every position, especially given they go into a two-week break, and encourage them to use the ball better than they did in the FA Cup.

Ryan Allsop is clear No. 1, Ethan Laird had a good game and should continue, while Alex Cochrane is arguably Blues’ most consistent player. The one change in defence would be the return of captain Krystian Bielik.

Midfield picks itself, as do Willum Willumsson, Keshi Anderson and Jay Stansfield. I think we could see Alfie May get back into the starting XI in place of Luke Harris, with Davies mindful of the need to have goalscorers on the pitch.

(4-2-3-1): Allsop; Laird, Klarer, Bielik, Cochrane; Paik, Iwata; Willumsson, May, Anderson; Stansfield