Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers: Big Eck eyes top flight record for Blues

There are some things I never thought I would hear in my lifetime. “You’re hired” was one of them, “Yes I’ll sleep with you” was another, but the most surprising thing I’ve heard so far has to be “Birmingham City are the Premier League’s form side!”

Birmingham City, tipped by many to be relegated this season, equalled their top flight record of four wins on the bounce against West Ham United on Saturday but tonight Alex McLeish’s men can make history, and given Blackburn’s awful away record you’d have to strongly fancy the Blues for another three points.

Defensively the Blues are rock tight but then you wouldn’t expect anything less from a team managed by the former Aberdeen and Scotland international legend. Big Eck’s men haven’t lost since going down 3-1 at the Emirates, have kept four clean sheets in that seven-game period and Lee Bowyer has rolled back the years to be their top goalscorer.

Victory tonight will see Birmingham climb above Liverpool and go level on points with Tottenham Hotspur. Christmas has certainly come early for McLeish and Blues fans!

However, Blackburn Rovers, who have only picked up four points on their travels this season, will be looking to spoil the party. Unfortunately, they don’t go into the game on the best of form. Since beating Bolton, Rovers have drawn their last three games and failed to find the target in the past four. Allardyce will be pleased though as his team have a League Cup semi-final to look forward to and those results have seen his side move away from the drop zone.

Birmingham have won four of the past six meetings against Rovers at St Andrews and the majority of the Panel believes that run will continue tonight.

Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers; Kick Off 8pm 15 Dec 2009

Prediction Panel

Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : 0 - 0
Chris Cox : 2 - 1
Graham Enwright : 1 - 1
Sue Gardener : TBC
Chris Goodwin : 1 - 0
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 2 - 0
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : 1 - 1
Peter Lee : 1 - 0
Don McMahon : 3 - 2
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 1 - 0
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : 1 - 1
Dave Nash : 1 - 0
Stephen Orford (sqf) : 2 - 0
Tony Ratton : 2 - 0
Peter Rendle : 2 - 0
Dan Taylor : 2 - 1
Andy Wakeman : 2 - 1
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : 2 - 1

Panel Verdict

The majority of the Panel sees the Blues continue their impressive run of form.

Home: 13; Draw: 4; Away: 0; TBC: 3.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!