Bolton to end Birmingham's winning streak
Bolton host Birmingham on Tuesday night as the two Championship sides attempt to distance themselves from the relegation zone.
Bolton sit three points ahead of Birmingham in the race for survival and just five points in front of 22nd place Barnsley. Meanwhile, Birmingham, winners of their last two fixtures, are a mere two points away from the drop. Tuesday night's match is the cliched six-point affair between the two clubs, and a win could keep one of the sides in the Championship next term.
Injuries could play a big part in this crunch fixture. Birmingham could be without midfielder Craig Gardner. The player missed the team's previous win against Ipswich due to a hamstring injury. He could return, but if he doesn't, he is a difficult veteran player to replace for the Blues. The good news for Birmingham manager Garry Monk is the team has played well in its last two fixtures. Birmingham have scored four goals while keeping successive clean sheets. The back to back wins ended a seven-match losing streak for the Championship side.
Bolton also have a key player out with injury. Midfield veteran Darren Pratley is suffering from a knock and he could be held out of the game with Birmingham. Pratley, who has tallied two goals and three assists, will undergo a late fitness test.
Both clubs have had similar problems in the goal scoring department. Bolton have tallied 34 goals, while Birmingham have scored a mere 29. Bolton sold their top scorer, Gary Madine, in January to Cardiff; and the cash-strapped club wasn't able to replace the forward's goal scoring. Madine had tallied 10 goals and five assists, and without him, the club have struggled in front of goal. Birmingham's goal scoring exploits have been worse. Things have been so bad; the Blues have brought in trialists in an attempt to find a first-team goal scorer for the final weeks of the season. Sam Gallagher's six goals leads Birmingham. The bad news is Gallagher is expected to miss the fixture due to a calf injury. The problems in the health department just continue to stack up for the Blues.
If either team could find a goal scorer, they could achieve safety from relegation with a few games in hand. There are still 21 points to play for in the Championship, and neither team is close to safety from relegation. With so many points still available, both clubs could theoretically end up in midtable by season's end. That most likely won't happen based on the awful form Bolton and Birmingham have displayed this term.
Without Gallagher and due to the shortage of goals this season, Birmingham will drop to another defeat at Bolton. Birmingham have secured the fewest away points this term (10) and their problems away from St. Andrew's will only continue.
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