PREVIEW: Sky Blues host Birmingham City

Mark Robins men are back in action on home soil...

23 November 2021

The Sky Blues host Birmingham City at the Coventry Building Society Arena in the Sky Bet Championship this Tuesday. Here’s everything you need to know about our opponents.

Fact File

Name: Birmingham City Football Club
Founded: 1875
Stadium: St Andrew’s (first opened 1906)
Capacity: 29,409
Nickname: Blues
Address: St Andrew’s Stadium, Cattell Road, Birmingham, B9 4RL
Pitch Size: 109 x 72 yards

The Opposition

Two-time League Cup winners Birmingham City are currently in their eleventh successive campaign in the second tier since their relegation from the Premier League in 2011.

During that time Blues have lost in the Play-Offs once and avoided relegation on the final day on four occasions with Lee Bowyer’s side finding themselves 15th in the Championship at the moment.

An 18^th place finish will be one Bowyer hopes to improve upon this term after his spring appointment and this summer he welcomed eleven new faces to the club including experienced striker and boyhood fan Troy Deeney as well youngsters Manchester United loanee Tahith Chong and Wolves duo Dion Sanderson and Matija Sarkic, who have gone to become regulars.

After winning their first game of the season away to Sheffield United, their most impressive win so far came in their fourth game of the season at Luton with Bowyer’s side winning 5-0. However, a seven-game winless run was ended at the end of October with victory at St Andrew’s against Swansea City.

Scott Hogan netted in their next match at Middlesbrough, and he is Blues’ top scorer with six goals overall and that goal on Teesside started his current three match scoring run. Deeney has netted twice, against Fulham and Swansea, since joining as well contributing three assists with Riley McGree, Gary Gardner and Marc Roberts also finding the back of the net on two occasions.

Manager

Canning Town born Lee Bowyer had an eighteen yearlong playing career, spending most of that time in the Premier League before entering management in 2018.

After coming through the ranks at Charlton Athletic Bowyer joined Leeds United in 1996 for a then record fee for a British teenager, and became a key man whilst at Elland Road, featuring heavily as the Whites achieved five successive top five Premier League finishes and made it to subsequent UEFA Cup then UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals, scoring against the likes of AC Milan and Barcelona in the latter as well as earning an England cap in 2002.

Departing West Yorkshire in January 2003 for West Ham United, Bowyer made only eleven appearances as the Hammers were relegated and moved to Newcastle United that summer.

Spending three years on Tyneside and helping the Magpies reach the Quarter Finals of the UEFA Cup but returned to the Boleyn Ground in 2006 and made 60 appearances.

After falling out of favour under Gianfranco Zola he joined Birmingham City on loan and featured 17 times as Alex McLeish’s side earned promotion back at the first attempt to the top flight.

2009/10 was a successful one for promoted Blues who achieved a club record unbeaten run of 12 in the top flight, earning a 9^th place finish however despite winning the first trophy of his career, the 2011 League Cup, they were relegated on the final day after a 2-1 defeat at Tottenham.

The next season was Bowyer’s final as a player, scoring twice in 29 games, including a winner at West Ham for Paul Jewell’s Ipswich Town, retiring at the age of 35.

He returned to Charlton to begin his coaching career on a full time basis before being names assistant manager to Karl Robinson in the summer of 2017 but by the end of the season he would be the man in the dugout, leading the Addicks to a 2-0 victory over Plymouth Argyle as caretaker in March 2018.

He led the South London club to the League One Play-Offs at the end of the season although they lost to Shrewsbury Town, not named permanent manager until that September he would achieve a third place finish in his first full season in charge beating Sunderland at Wembley in the Play-Off Final to secure Championship for the first time in three years for the Addicks.

A bright start to the season saw them sixth at the end of August however one win from late October to the start of February, with off field issues affecting the club, saw Bowyers side in a survival fight and despite winning the first two games after lockdown they would lose the fight on the final day of the season back at Bowyer’s former club Leeds.

Bowyer departed The Valley in March 2021 for another former club in the form of Birmingham, with the South London side 8^th in the third tier, to take charge of a side deep in relegation trouble after Aitor Karanka departed with the side fourth from bottom.

Winning his first game in charge against Reading, he went on achieve four more wins to guide the West Midlands side to 18th in the table, ending the campaign nine points clear of the bottom three.

This campaign saw Bowyer start off with victory at Bramall Lane and then go on a three game unbeaten run starting with the 5-0 win at Kenilworth Road which saw his side go fourth in the table. After falling to 17^th in the table Birmingham responded with three wins in a row however they go into the match with the Sky Blues on the back of successive defeats.

Since joining Blues, Bowyer has managed 30 matches recording 12 wins, 6 draws and 12 defeats.

Last Six Games

Lost – Hull City 2-0 Birmingham City (Sky Bet Championship)
Lost – Birmingham City 1–2 Reading (Sky Bet Championship)
Won – Birmingham City 3-0 Bristol City (Sky Bet Championship)
Won – Middlesbrough 0-2 Birmingham City (Sky Bet Championship)
Won – Birmingham City 2-1 Swansea City (Sky Bet Championship)
Draw – Huddersfield Town 0-0 Birmingham City (Sky Bet Championship)

Last Time We Met

The two sides last met in January 2021 in the Sky Bet Championship at St Andrew’s, with the two teams sharing the spoils for a third successive league game.

Mark Robins’ side started well with Viktor Gyökeres having an effort diverted narrowly wide in the opening five minutes however the home side were awarded a penalty in the 18^th minute with Jeremie Bela despatching the spot kick to give Blues the lead.

The Sky Blues wouldn’t be behind for long though as Callum O’Hare stole the ball off Birmingham skipper Harlee Dean and passed to Ben Sheaf who was waiting in the area.

Sheaf then set up Gustavo Hamer to fire the ball into the far corner and get City back on level terms just before the half hour mark.

Birmingham wasted a good opportunity after the break to retake the lead when Ivan Sunjic found Scott Hogan in the box, however the forward headed the ball over the bar.

Coventry created chances of their own and when Max Biamou couldn’t quite bring a cross under his control Hamer was there to fire a half volley, a bit just off target.

Biamou then played Gyökeres but his effort was saved by Blues ‘keeper Neil Etheridge.

Both sides had chances in the injury time with Ben Wilson in the Sky Blues’ goal excellently denying former City striker Lukas Jutkiewicz before Jordan Shipley’s header was clearly by some last ditch defending to see both sides leave with a point.

Sky Blues XI: Ben Wilson (GK), Josh Pask, Leo Ostigard, Dom Hyam (C), Sam McCallum, Ben Sheaf (Jordan Shipley 67’), Matty James, Gustavo Hamer, Callum O’Hare, Max Biamou, Viktor Gyökeres.

Subs: Marko Marosi (GK), Michael Rose, Julien Dacosta, Josh Eccles, Jamie Allen, Wesley Jobello, Will Bapaga, Amadou Bakayoko.

Head-to-Head Record

Sky Blues Wins – 17
Draws – 18
Birmingham City Wins – 24

Club Connections

Jake Clarke-Salter

Carshalton born defender Jake Clarke-Salter joined City on loan from Chelsea in August 2021 and has made 13 appearances so far for the Sky Blues after spending the last two seasons on loan with fellow Championship side Birmingham City where he played 35 times in total.

Clarke-Salter joined Chelsea’s academy initially in 2006 but after spending the 2007/08 season at Sutton United he returned to the West London club, winning the FA Youth Cup three years in a row from 2013/14 as well as winning successive UEFA Youth Leagues in 2014/15 and 2015/16.

It was during the latter season he made his first team debut for the Blues when came on as a substitute in a 4-2 win against Aston Villa at Villa Park in April 2016.

At the end of the following August, he joined Bristol Rovers on a season long loan and made his debut at Bramall Lane against a Sheffield United side that included future Sky Blues teammate Simon Moore.

In his second match for the club, he got his first assist at professional level when he set up Matt Taylor for the second of what would be a hat trick as the Gas fought from 3-1 down to earn a point against Milton Keynes Dons.

That Saturday he then scored the second goal for Darrell Clarke’s side, as well as ensuring a clean sheet, in a 2-0 win at Boundary Park against Oldham Athletic

He would make another 10 appearances for the West Country club before returning to Cobham at the end of the season.

2017/18 saw Clarke-Salter make his second appearance for Chelsea, again off the bench, in a 5-1 win over Nottingham Forest in the League Cup but he would leave on loan that January for Sunderland where he gained his first experience of the Championship.

Whilst on Wearside Clarke-Salter made 11 appearances and was given the first red card of his career against Middlesbrough, departing at the end of the season after a second successive relegation for the Black Cats.

A third loan spell for the defender saw him spend a season with Vitesse Arnhem of the Netherlands and he got off to the prefect start by scoring the fourth in a 5-1 home win over FC Groningen and he helped Vitesse to five clean sheets during his time there.

July 2019 saw the start of a two-year association with Blues of the West Midlands as opposed to the Blues of West London when he signed for Pep Clotet’s side for an initial season long loan with is first goal earning a point against Millwall that November.

He added 19 more Championship appearances to his name plus four in the cups that saw him keep a clean sheet against Coventry in the FA Cup Fourth Round.

The then 23-year-old returned to St Andrew’s in October 2020, now led by Aitor Karanka and made 11 more appearances in the dark blue of Birmingham before joining the Sky Blues on loan in August.

His first start for Mark Robin’s side came in the win at Blackpool, with City earning their first clean sheet of the season and Clarke-Salter has gone on to feature in six further victories, playing a big part in the Sky Blues’ strong start to the season so far.

In addition to this, on the international stage Clarke-Salter won the 2017 U20s World Cup with England and has earned 12 caps, scoring once as an U21s international for the Three Lions.

Match Officials

Leigh Doughty will be the man in the middle for the clash at the Coventry Building Society Arena against Blues.

This fixture will be the second Sky Blues' match Doughty has officated this season after overseeing September's 2-0 home win over Middlesbrough.

So far this season, Doughty has awarded 53 yellow cards and 1 red card across the 13 fixtures in the Sky Bet Championship, Sky Bet League One, Sky Bet League Two and Carabao Cup he has officated.

Doughty will be assisted by Robert Merchant and Richard Wild whilst Joshua Smith will act as the fourth official.

Match Previews

Match Reports

REPORT: Sky Blues 0-0 Birmingham City

City held at the CBS Arena...

23 November 2021

Mark Robins' men maintained their strong home form with a point against Birmingham City at the Coventry Building Society Arena tonight.

With the Sky Blues faithful in good voice at kick off, the team began with real intent and had the first shot of the match when skipper Liam Kelly had a go from range, but he couldn’t quite steer the ball on target.

Callum O’Hare then found Matty Godden, who had lost his marker in the box, but his attempt on goal was blocked by the Blues captain Marc Roberts 15 yards out.

The visitors first opportunity came when Scott Hogan was played in however, he was forced wide and his cross to the back post was dealt with by Dominic Hyam.

From this the Sky Blues went on the counter however Fankaty Dabo’s cross was well caught by the flying Blues’ ‘keeper Matija Sarkic.

With the home side dominating possession the away side wasted a chance to take the lead against the run of play when, on a rare foray into the Sky Blues’ box, Hogan could only manage a tame shot straight at Simon Moore.

Viktor Gyökeres then attempted an effort from 30 yards out but Sarkic got down low to deny the forward.

The Swede’s strike partner Godden was the next to spring Sarkic into action with the Wolves loanee diving across his goal to tip the forward’s shot away.

The Sky Blues continued to pressure Blues’ defence with Gyökeres winning a corner and after the ball was recycled, Gus Hamer whipped in a cross, but Sarkic beat Gyökeres to the ball in the air.

O’Hare then flicked the ball onto Hamer who then passed to Gyökeres to set up Maatsen, but the left back was denied by Sarkic before Hamer fired a free kick just wide of the post a minute later after O’Hare was brought down.

Hamer then linked up with O’Hare again, but the latter’s cross from the byline was caught by Sarkic, who was proving to have a busy evening.

The visitors earned a corner with five minutes to go of the half, which was played short, but after Jeremie Bela beat Dabo the on rushing Moore ensured the ball went out for a goal kick.

After O’Hare almost poked Godden’s cross goal bound, Blues midfielder Riley McGree curled an effort from distance but it went high over the bar.

HALF TIME: Sky Blues 0-0 Birmingham City

Robins’ side began the second half as they began the first with Dion Sanderson the first name in the book after his poor challenge on Gyökeres just as the forward was about to enter the box, with the Blues defender then heading Hamer’s resulting free kick away from just under the bar.

The ball then dropped to Hogan in the box, but he couldn’t divert his first time shot on Moore’s goal.

Maatsen then did well to clear his lines with O’Hare running onto his clearance before finding Gyökeres out wide. The Swede then beat two Blues defenders as he cut inside and Hamer ran onto his through ball but his effort was straight at Sarkic.

The Dutch full back then chipped the ball away from his man and his run inside was cut short after he was appended with Hamer’s low free kick was blocked by the wall.

Godden received the ball on the edge of the box an worked his way into a good shooting position with Sarkic at full stretch to keep the score level before he tipped over the resulting corner.

Gyökeres was getting the better of the Blues’ defence, turning Roberts on this occasion, but his attempted through ball to substitute Allen didn’t quite reach the midfielder.

After Troy Deeney’s deflected through ball was well cut out by Michael Rose the visitors found themselves down to ten men after Ryan Woods slid in from behind on Maatsen as he broke away on the counter.

The Sky Blues won another free kick with Maatsen’s free kick cleared to as far as Kelly but he couldn’t keep his effort down.

In injury time Gyökeres then had the ball played to him on the edge of the six-yard box but unfortunately his strike beat Sarkic and the goal.

Maatsen fired over a minute later, with Walker having the last chance but he dragged his shot wide as City had to settle for a draw.

FULL TIME: Sky Blues 0-0 Birmingham City

YELLOW CARDS: Dion Sanderson (54’), Marc Roberts (76’), Ivan Sunjic (90+2)

RED CARD: Ryan Woods (82’)

ATTENDANCE: 22,676 (4,068 Away Fans)

Sky Blues XI: Simon Moore (GK), Fankaty Dabo, Michael Rose, Kyle McFadzean, Dominic Hyam, Ian Maatsen, Liam Kelly (C), Gus Hamer (Jamie Allen 73’), Callum O’Hare (Tyler Walker 90’), Viktor Gyökeres, Matty Godden.

Unused Subs: Ben Wilson, Jodi Jones, Ben Sheaf, Todd Kane, Jordan Shipley.

Birmingham City XI: Matija Sarkic (GK), Dion Sanderson, Marc Roberts, Harlee Dean (C), Marcel Oakley (Juan Castillo 65’), Ryan Woods, Ivan Sunjic, Jeremie Bela, Riley McGree, Scott Hogan (Jordan James 86’), Troy Deeney (Lukas Jutkiewicz 86’).

Unused Subs: Neil Etheridge (GK), Chuks Aneke, Jobe Bellingham, Mitchell Roberts.