Birmingham City vs West Bromwich Albion

8th February

West Bromwich Albion travel to St. Andrew's to take on local rivals Birmingham City on Friday night (ko 8pm).

Both sides head into this weekend's fixture on the back of victories last time out in the Sky Bet Championship, with the Baggies beating Coventry City 1-0 at The Hawthorns and the Blues dramatically winning 4-3 at Swansea City.

Albion will be aiming to strengthen their play-off hopes, while Birmingham will be determined to secure back-to-back league triumphs for the first time since October and move further away from trouble.

Okay Yokuslu and Tahith Chong fighting for the ball back at The Hawthorns in September

Follow the game live

Supporters inside and outside the United Kingdom can listen to live commentary of Albion's encounter with Birmingham City on WBA Radio.

Gez Mulholland and former midfielder Andy Johnson will bring you kick-by-kick coverage of Friday's fixture at St. Andrew's.

Audio passes can be purchased for £2.50 by clicking here.

Live updates will also be posted across the club's social media channels throughout the evening.

Our opponents

Saturday's victory at Swansea City was a big boost for the Blues having lost five successive Sky Bet Championship matches prior to their trip to South Wales.

That triumph, sealed by Auston Trusty's 97th-minute winner, opened up extra breathing room between John Eustace's men and the second-tier danger zone.

Birmingham City made a strong start to the campaign and lost just three league matches from the start of September until Christmas Day, but a poor opening to 2023 pushed them back down towards the lower reaches of the division.

Friday's hosts will want to improve their form in front of their own supporters after delivering just one win in their last eight matches in all competitions at St. Andrew's - a 3-2 success against Reading in December.

Eustace, a former Coventry City, Stoke City, Watford and Derby midfielder, has been in charge of the club since the start of July and has previous coaching experience with Kidderminster Harriers, QPR and the Republic of Ireland national team.

The Blues secured a thrilling win over Swansea last Saturday afternoon

From the Albion Archive

Albion claimed the bragging rights over Blues with a 2-1 victory in the fourth round of the FA Cup in January 2015.

Victor Anichebe bagged a brace at St Andrew's, with Blues' goal coming from Jonathan Grounds.

Check out the highlights below.

One for the stattos

Albion boast the stronger head-to-head record, with 60 victories to their name compared to Birmingham City's 37.

However, the Baggies have only won one of their last four games against the Blues and they'll be desperate to change that on Friday.

Karlan Grant scored the only goal of the game when Albion last beat Blues in October 2021

Colours for the road

The Baggies will wear their green and yellow away kit at Birmingham City.

Albion have wore those famous colours in memorable victories at St. Andrew's before in December 2019 (3-2) and November 2001 (1-0).

Ticket details

Tickets swiftly sold out for Albion's visit to St. Andrew's this weekend.

The Baggies will be backed by 2,277 supporters in Small Heath on Friday night.

10th February

Albion suffered defeat against Birmingham City at St. Andrew’s on Friday night.

Goals from Hannibal Mejbri and Krystian Bielik either side of half-time ensured Blues took all three points away from the Sky Bet Championship clash in the West Midlands.

In a show of solidarity with those affected by the tragic events in Turkey and Syria, Okay Yokuslu led out the Baggies ahead of kick-off.

It was a combative start from the home side, who could’ve been ahead earlier than they were when Auston Trusty diverted a free header over the post from a corner kick in the opening three minutes.

But Blues would take the advantage before the ten-minute mark. Referee James Linnington awarded City a free-kick a few yards outside the box, and following some thought, Mejbri was able to curl the ball around the wall and past David Button to put the hosts in front.

Further chances went the way of John Eustace’s side, Tahith Chong had a couple of efforts - one of which was saved by Button - and Juninho Bacuna volleyed over the bar from distance.

The Baggies, largely due the approach from Blues, struggled to forge any openings during the first 45.

Dike almost capitalised on a poor back pass to goal from defender Kevin Long - which deflected wide after the United States international collided with home keeper John Ruddy.

But Marc Albrighton came closest to finding the net and almost finished off Albion’s best move of the half, shooting from the right side of the box following neat play down the other flank. But a deflection ensured the recent addition’s effort went wide, and that the hosts went in ahead at the interval.

Like the first 45, it was an effective start to proceedings by the hosts after the interval and they soon doubled their advantage when Bielik beat Button to a dangerous delivery to head in the second goal of the game.

Boss Carlos Corberán used all of his available substitutes in a bid to revive the game, but other than John Swift’s deflected strike - which was parried by Ruddy - the Baggies failed to test City’s defensive resolve on the night, as they left St. Andrew’s empty-handed.

Albion: Button; Furlong, O’Shea, Pieters, Townsend (Reach 68); Molumby, Yokuslu (Chalobah 55); Albrighton (Swift 55), Wallace, Diangana (Thomas-Asante 55); Dike (Grant 68).

Substitutes: Griffiths, Ajayi.

Attendance: 17,781 (2,244 away)

Friday 10th February 2023 - 20:00