Birmingham fans will be hoping their side can record a third straight home victory when they face Manchester City this Wednesday. Alex McLeish's men beat West Ham and Coventry City in their previous two games but both were in cup competitions - and the Scot will be hoping his players can take confidence gained from this performances into a difficult game against high-flying City.
Whilst they have been impressive in the domestic cups, Birmingham's league form has been a worry - winning just four games in the Premier League.
Survival last season was build on a solid defence but the Blues have not kept a clean sheet in their last eight league matches - recording just one victory. McLeish will need the fans to get St Andrew's rocking like it was for the League Cup semi-final victory over West Ham if Blues are to stand a chance of taking all three points.
City Hoping It Is Third Time Lucky In The Midlands
Manchester City fans will travel to St Andrew's on Wednesday hoping their side can record a victory in their third visit to the Midlands within a month - after defeat against Aston Villa in the league and a draw at Notts County in the FA Cup last Sunday.
City have to go back five-and-a-half years for their last win at Birmingham but will be confident they can leave with the victory after picking up 21 points on their travels this season - a number only bettered by Arsenal with 24.
Whilst scoring goals has been a problem for City recently, with Mancini's men yet to score an away league goal in 2011, keeping them out has been their strength - with an equal-best Premier League number of 11 clean sheets this campaign.
TEAM NEWS
Birmingham City
New signing Obafemi Martins is unlikely to make his debut for Birmingham after the club confirmed he had joined them on a six-month loan from Rubin Kazan. The former Newcastle United striker has been described as "explosive" by manager Alex McLeish, who will be hoping that the pacey Nigerian can fire his side to Premier League safety.
But speaking to Sky Sports after his transfer was confirmed, Martins said he was unlikely to train with his new club until Wednesday or Thursday.
Curtis Davies is another player who could feature for Alex McLeish's side - after the centre-back was signed from local rivals Aston Villa to cover the gap left by the hamstring injury that has ruled Scott Dann out for the rest of the season.
McLeish should include key trio Roger Johnson, Cameron Jerome and Craig Gardner in his starting XI after they were rested for the FA Cup clash with Coventry.
Long-term absentee James McFadden (knee) is also unavailable.
Possible starting XI: Foster; Carr, Davies, Johnson, Ridgewell; Bentley, Gardner, Bowyer, Ferguson, Hleb; Jerome.
Manchester City
Manchester City will be without England winger Adam Johnson, who was ruled out for two to three months with an ankle injury sustained in training last Thursday.
Mancini is also sweating on the fitness of captain Carlos Tevez - after the Argentinian missed the FA Cup clash with Notts County on Sunday due to a back injury.
Tevez is expected to recover in time for the Birmingham game, and speaking on the club's official website, Roberto Mancini said: "It's very unlucky, we don't have a player like Adam but I hope that Tevez will be okay for Birmingham, we will see on Monday."
Mancini is likely to reinstate Vincent Kompany, Aleksandar Kolarov and David Silva - after all three were rested for the FA Cup game last Sunday.
City are also without fiery Italian Mario Balotelli - with the striker ruled out until March due to a knee problem.
Possible starting XI: Hart; Richards, K Toure, Kompany, Kolarov; De Jong, Barry; Milner, Y Toure, Tevez; Dzeko.
Prediction
Birmingham City are hard to beat at St Andrew's but will have to ensure they do not give Manchester City a head-start like their last two home games. Both West Ham and Coventry City went ahead against Birmingham, with McLeish's men producing strong-willed performances to turn the two games around.
Manchester City have the likes of Carlos Tevez and Nigel de Jong to recall to their starting XI and will have the quality to cause Birmingham problems. But under the floodlights at St Andrew's and in front of a passionate home crowd, I expect Birmingham to battle hard and secure a valuable point.
Manchester City have the likes of Carlos Tevez and Nigel de Jong to recall to their starting XI and will have the quality to cause Birmingham problems. But under the floodlights at St Andrew's and in front of a passionate home crowd, I expect Birmingham to battle hard and secure a valuable point.
Birmingham 2-2 Man City 
