Birmingham v Preston North End: Preview
|
Team Stat Comparison
|
|
Birmingham
|
Preston North End
|
|
Matches Played
|
46
|
46
|
|
Table Position
|
2
|
6
|
|
Points
|
83
|
74
|
|
Goal Difference
|
17
|
12
|
|
Goals for
*
|
1.3
|
1.2
|
|
Goals against
*
|
0.7
|
1.5
|
|
Last 5
|
W-L-W-D-D
|
L-D-W-W-W
|
|
Last 5 home
|
L-D-W-D-W
|
D-W-W-L-W
|
|
Last 5 away
|
W-W-D-W-D
|
L-W-W-D-D
|
|
*
Goals per match - home matches for home club and away matches for away club
|
|
·
Club Stats:
Birmingham
|
Preston North End
|
Updated: April 24, 2009, 10:01 AM UK
Birmingham will welcome back captain Lee Carsley and goalkeeper Maik Taylor for their potentially promotion-winning showdown against Preston.
The midlands outfit will secure an immediate return to the top-flight with victory over North End, and a sell-out crowd is expected at St Andrew's to back the club's bid.
Carsley has missed the last three games due to the red card he received in the 2-0 win over Wolves, but whether he earns a place in Alex McLeish's starting XI remains to be seen due to the form of Damien Johnson in his absence.
Taylor also served a one-match suspension against Watford last time out, with Colin Doyle taking his place between the sticks for the 1-0 victory, but he should return.
David Murphy was earlier this week ruled out for the remainder of the campaign with a broken kneecap, meaning Djimi Traore should come into the centre of defence with Franck Queudrue shifting to left-back.
McLeish must also decide who to opt with in attack, with Cameron Jerome coming off the bench to grab his fourth goal in six games at Vicarage Road.
Preston boss Alan Irvine will keep any changes to his starting line-up to a minimum.
North End destroyed Cardiff 6-0 at Deepdale last weekend to keep alive their hopes of claiming a coveted play-off berth.
Irvine has hinted he may tinker with his side with a tactical switch but will not make wholesale changes for a game Preston must win against opposition looking to secure an instant return to the Premier League.
The North End chief is hoping to have left-back Callum Davidson back in the fold for the penultimate league game of the season.
The Scotland international has missed the last seven games with a niggling hamstring problem but Eddie Nolan has proved an able deputy and could keep his place.
Neil Mellor and Jon Parkin are set to spearhead the attack again after both men netted in the demolition of Cardiff.
Birmingham 1 - 2 Preston North End