Birmingham managed to create plenty of chances on Wednesday evening, when they travelled to the south coast to face Bournemouth, but Lee Bowyer’s side could not capitalise on Jefferson Lerma being sent off, and ended up falling to a 3-1 defeat.
That was the fourth consecutive match that the Blues have conceded at least two goals, and having averaged just one goal per game away from home this season, defeat was always likely in midweek once the Cherries had taken a two-goal lead in the first half.
Despite a poor run of form, Birmingham have managed to get on the scoresheet at least once in their last eight matches, suggesting that their biggest problem lays in their defensive third, conceding too many goals.
Bowyer’s team are currently 13 points clear of the relegation zone, but all of the sides below them have at least one game in hand on them, meaning that Birmingham will have to improve their form to avoid being dragged further into a relegation battle.
Luton continued their good run of form on Tuesday, also meaning that they have had an extra rest day ahead of Saturday’s outing, with a 2-1 win over bottom-placed Barnsley.
The hosts were pegged back just before the break after Allan Campbell had put the Hatters 1-0 up, but Elijah Adebayo’s thunderbolt penalty gave Barnsley goalkeeper Bradley Collins no chance, to secure the three points for Luton.
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Jones’s team will have started to believe that they can finish in the top six this season, and that momentum could be just what they need to break into the playoff places, with another victory expected on Saturday.https://6ee569deff43a5ded13bb68cb25268fd.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html?n=0
Luton have only lost once in their last six away matches across all competitions, making them strong favourites for the three points this weekend, and they have showed a real togetherness in recent matches which will more than help their playoff dream.
Saturday’s encounter is likely to play out very differently to the reverse fixture in August, when Birmingham thrashed Luton 5-0 at Kenilworth Road, but it is now the Hatters in a stronger position in the Championship
