Birmingham v Wolves

Last updated : 29 April 2011 By BBC Sport

Birmingham goalkeeper Ben Foster is expected to be fit despite being forced off against Liverpool because of a dead leg and sore back.Nikola Zigic may be on the substitutes' bench if he passes a late fitness test, while Barry Ferguson is likely to return after being rested last weekend.

Wolves are optimistic that striker Steven Fletcher will play despite jarring his knee against Stoke.

Fellow forward Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is doubtful with a hamstring injury.

Birmingham

Doubtful: Zigic (groin & hip)

Injured: Dann (hamstring), Martins (groin), McFadden (knee), Taylor (shoulder), Valles (foot)

Wolves

Doubtful: Ebanks-Blake (hamstring), Fletcher (knee)

Injured: Doyle (knee), Edwards (back), Elokobi (hamstring), Zubar (shoulder)

MATCH PREVIEW

Wolves make the short trip to Birmingham, where they last won a top-flight game 30 years ago, in desperate need of a victory after Tuesday's morale-sapping defeat at Stoke.

We weren't expected to take anything from these last two games [at Chelsea and Liverpool] and the bookies have been proved right

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish

Mick McCarthy's men have lost their way since their last visit to Birmingham, six weeks ago. After winning at Blues' arch rivals Aston Vila to claim a third victory in six games, Wolves looked well set for survival.

However, since then they have claimed just one point from a possible 12, a run that has coincided with an injury to key man Kevin Doyle. The Irish striker hopes to return for the final two games of the season, but unless Wolves can stop the rot their fate may already settled by then.

Heavy defeats at Chelsea and Liverpool mean Birmingham are not yet safe. However, Alex McLeish's men appear to be inching their way to safety thanks to their home form - they are chasing a third successive win at St Andrew's.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Wolves won the reverse fixture in December to claim their first win in 10 league matches against Birmingham.

• The last time Wolves won a top-flight game at St Andrew's (on 21 November 1981) they ended the season second bottom and were relegated.

• An away win would give Mick McCarthy's men their first top-flight double against Birmingham since the 1975/76 season. That year Blues ended the campaign one place above Wolves, who were relegated.

Birmingham

• Blues have won two of their last nine Premier League matches (W2, D2, L5).

• Cameron Jerome has not scored in his last 21 Premier League games. His last top-flight goal came in the 3-2 defeat at Stoke on 9 November. He has netted two FA Cup goals since then.

• Birmingham have conceded eight goals in their last two games, and have kept just one clean sheet in their last 10 matches in league and cup.

Wolves

• Mick McCarthy's side have taken just eight points on their travels - the worst record in the top flight this season.

• They have conceded 11 goals in their last four games, scoring two in reply.

• Wolves have lost 16 of 19 league games in which their opponents scored first.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Birmingham

Gardner: 9 goals (7 league); Zigic: 8 goals (5 league)

Wolves

Fletcher: 8 goals (6 league); Doyle: 8 goals (5 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Kevin Friend

Assistant referees: Dave Bryan & Ron Ganfield

Fourth official: Lee Probert

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Birmingham (L0-5 v Liverpool, a): Foster (Doyle 40), Carr, Johnson, Jiranek, Ridgewell, Larsson, Gardner (Phillips 79), Fahey, Bowyer, Hleb (Bentley 67), Jerome. Subs not used: Parnaby, Davies, Derbyshire, Beausejour.

Wolves (L0-3 v Stoke, a): Hennessey, Stearman, Berra, Craddock, Ward (Guedioura 79), Mancienne, Kightly (Hunt 74), Henry, O'Hara, Jarvis, Fletcher (Vokes 69). Subs not used: Hahnemann, Milijas, Mouyokolo, Foley.

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport