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I Know Why I “Effect” The Changes Suddenly Ahead Of The Clash, Birmingham City Boss Revealed That…

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February 21, 2025

Desmond A

I Know Why I “Effect” The Changes Suddenly, Birmingham City Boss Revealed Why He Quickly…

Jay Stansfield out and three changes in total – Birmingham City predicted XI for Reading

A trip to Reading is next up for Chris Davies’ title-chasing Birmingham City.

Blues sealed a spot at Wembley in the Vertu Trophy final by beating Bradford City in midweek, but their attention now reverts to their League One promotion charge

A six-point lead has been built up on second-placed Wycombe Wanderers, and Blues have an 11-point advantage on third-placed Wrexham – with two games-in-hand.

They will face a Reading side who are in play-off contention thanks in no small part to their superb home record. The Royals have won 11 of their 15 home games this season, a record only Blues and Wrexham can better.

Blues won’t travel to Berkshire without problems. Star striker Jay Stansfield suffered a leg injury in the win over Bradford and while ‘no bone or ligament damage’ was detected in scans, it feels unlikely the 22-year-old will recover in time to start against Reading.

That leaves Davies with a choice between Alfie May, Blues’ second top scorer with 11 goals, and Lyndon Dykes who sent Blues to Wembley with a bullet header on Tuesday

Dykes would give Blues a physical edge, but the like-for-like replacement for Stansfield is May due to his ability to hound and press out of possession. It is also worth mentioning that May has thrived in the centre-forward position when Stansfield hasn’t played.

Dating back to the opening day, when May scored in a 1-1 draw with Reading, the 31-year-old has managed six goals and three assists in seven League One starts in his preferred position without Stansfield in the starting line-up.

Elsewhere, there are two obvious changes for Davies to make. Ethan Laird and Keshi Anderson give Blues athleticism and quality in wide areas and will surely come back in at right-back and left-wing respectively.

Laird will take the place of Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Anderson dislodges Scott Wright, leaving Davies with his strongest available XI bar Stansfield.