Feeling The Blues
Birmingham head into the game fresh on something of an upturn after grinding out a point at Eastlands last weekend to bounce back from a crushing midweek defeat at Stoke City, and play at St. Andrew's for the first time since coming from behind to steal a draw against West Ham United.
Birmingham head into the game fresh on something of an upturn after grinding out a point at Eastlands last weekend to bounce back from a crushing midweek defeat at Stoke City, and play at St. Andrew's for the first time since coming from behind to steal a draw against West Ham United.
Prior to the clean sheet in Manchester, McLeish's side had shipped five goals in two back-to-back games, a sequence that does not bode well when up against the top scoring side in the table.
But a win against Chelsea is a must if Birmingham are to leap out of the drop zone, with the Midlands side a point from safety after failing to pick up a win in their last four league games.
Back To Basics
The Premier League champions have a record against Saturday's opponents that should give them a boost after picking up just three points from their previous three games.
The Premier League champions have a record against Saturday's opponents that should give them a boost after picking up just three points from their previous three games.
Chelsea are unbeaten in 10 against Birmingham, winning six, including two at St Andrew's, and the team from the capital are bettered only by Arsenal on the road this season.
In Florent Malouda, Ancelotti has the league's most potent midfielder, with the Frenchman netting seven times so far — one ahead of Drogba and two ahead of Salomon Kalou.
And the Italian coach will be hoping that at least one of them pop up to ensure that Chelsea maintain their place at the top of the table after blowing the chance to go five points clear of bitter local rivals Arsenal last weekend.
TEAM NEWS
Birmingham City
Alex McLeish has no fresh injury concerns nor any players on the suspension list, and is likely to name an unchanged side from the team that fought for a goalless draw at Manchester City last weekend.
But the Scot could throw in a wild card with left winger Jean Beausejour knocking at the door for another start after missing out on an appearance at Eastlands.
McLeish has gone on record as saying that his side must follow the example set by Sunderland and adopt a 4-4-2 formation against Chelsea.
TEAM NEWS
Birmingham City
Alex McLeish has no fresh injury concerns nor any players on the suspension list, and is likely to name an unchanged side from the team that fought for a goalless draw at Manchester City last weekend.But the Scot could throw in a wild card with left winger Jean Beausejour knocking at the door for another start after missing out on an appearance at Eastlands.
McLeish has gone on record as saying that his side must follow the example set by Sunderland and adopt a 4-4-2 formation against Chelsea.
Possible starting XI: Foster; Carr, Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell; Larsson, Gardner, Ferguson, Beausejour; Jerome, Zigic
Chelsea
Chelsea
The champions continue to be without John Terry and Alex, posing a significant defensive headache for manager Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian fielded four nominal full-backs for the game against Sunderland, but may be inclined to include young centre-back Jeffrey Bruma after seeing his makeshift backline torn apart by the Mackems.Frank Lampard is again expected to be absent, and definitely missing out will be Michael Essien, who will sit out the next two games as a result of suspension. Didier Drogba should figure if he can prove his fitness after missing out Ivory Coast's friendly against Poland suffering the lingering effects of malaria contracted in October.
Possible starting XI: Cech; Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Bruma, Cole; Mikel, Ramires, Malouda; Anelka, Drogba, Kalou
Prediction
With both sides scoring and leaking goals of late, the man behind the scoreboard should be kept busy, but with the blues of London desperate to make amends after disappointingly losing twice in three games, expect McLeish to be left blue in the face after this one.
Birmingham 1-3 Chelsea 
