Following the goalless draw at League One-bound Rotherham United on April 20, Birmingham travelled to Huddersfield seven days later knowing a victory would go a long way in securing the club’s Championship status, but Blues once again failed to perform on their league travels.
Koji Miyoshi netted the opening goal of the Yorkshire contest to put Birmingham into a half-time lead, although the Terriers were quick to bite back in the second period, when former Watford man Rhys Healey breached the net of John Ruddy to steal a share of the points at the John Smith’s Stadium.
Having passed up the opportunity of three points at the bottom two sides in the division, Gary Rowett’s men will have to do it the hard way if they are to prevent a Second City giant from falling into the depths of the third tier for the first time in three decades – a fate unimaginable in October when John Eustace had the side sitting in sixth place.
Despite the bleak situation that Birmingham find themselves in, there is a glimmer of hope in the form of Blues’ record at St Andrew’s this season – especially in front of sold-out crowds – with the home troops rising to the occasion against Coventry City last time out in B9, winning 3-0.
Sitting one point behind 21st-placed Plymouth Argyle – who have a vastly-superior goal difference – Rowett’s charges realistically need all three points to have a chance of avoiding relegation on Saturday, but Blues must hope that either the Green Army, Sheffield Wednesday or Blackburn Rovers slip up.
With the heroics of Ipswich Town hogging the spotlight in East Anglia – and with the survival attempts of Birmingham set to steal the show this weekend – Norwich are going under the radar slightly in their promotion hunt this term unlike the days of Daniel Farke and Teemu Pukki.
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The Canaries have managed to wrestle fifth place off a stuttering West Bromwich Albion outfit in recent matches, with David Wagner’s men three points ahead of seventh-placed Hull City, meaning that barring an extraordinary swing in goal difference on the final day, Norwich will compete in the post-season playoffs.
Consequently, questions have been raised whether Wagner will opt to rest some of his first-team stars in preparation for the impending playoff semi-finals, but the German stated in his pre-match press conference that he will “go strong” at St Andrew’s on Saturday.
Norwich’s recent record against Birmingham makes for extremely grim viewing for those of a Blues persuasion, with the Canaries winning the last seven matches between the sides, although the East Anglians’ most recent defeat to Saturday’s hosts arrived against a Rowett-managed Birmingham at St Andrew’s in August 2016.
