Birmingham City v Charlton Athletic
Charlton head to second-placed Birmingham City this Saturday (3pm) without a win in six games but buoyed by a stirring display at Plymouth Argyle last weekend.
Manager Alan Pardew was pleased with his side's performance, which could have seen a late reversal of fortunes with Charlton grasping victory from the jaws of defeat.
And, after a radical change on the training ground, he will be seeking a similar display at St Andrews as he aims to build on last weekend's much-improved showing.
Indeed, Charlton have not tasted defeat in their last two away games, and a point - or even more against a City side struggling for a bit of form themselves - would be further signs of encouragement.
Trailing 1-0 to Mathias Kouo-Doumbe's first-half strike at Home Park last Saturday, the Addicks pulled level late on through Kelly Youga's first competitive goal for the club and then went in front in stoppage time when Andy Gray scored from the penalty spot.
However, with just seconds remaining, substitute Emile Mpenza netted with his first touch to seal a point for the Pilgrims and deny the Addicks a crucial victory.
Despite seeing the win snatched away from his side at the death, Pardew praised his players after a difficult week following the 3-1 defeat to Barnsley at The Valley.
Pardew said immediately afterwards: "After the pressure we were under and the criticism we took as a group this week I got the right reaction.
"I am disappointed as the three points would have made so much difference to us in terms of where we are in the league and the games we have got coming up.
"I have to accept a point but it was a great performance and if I was a Charlton fan that came down here fearing the worst I would think 'that's better'."
And he noted: "I look at the table now and those two points would have made a real difference but we are not far away. We've lost another bit of ground but we didn't deserve to. We go into the next game in much better health and I'm pleased for all my staff and players.
"They have been absolutely diligent this week and worked their nuts off. To react like that and not get three points kind of sums up the season we are having."
Despite the improved display, the fact of the matter remains that Charlton are in urgent need of a win, and the going won't be easy against Birmingham at St Andrews.
What's more, the last six goals Charlton have conceded have all stemmed from set-pieces - something the manager will need to address if the Addicks are to climb up the Championship table.
The opposition
Despite their high position, Birmingham have stuttered of late and are without a win from their last three games, losing two and drawing one during that time.
That draw came against Nottingham Forest on Saturday when James McFadden's early goal was cancelled out by James Perch's second-half header at The City Ground.
The Blues' recent run has dropped them six points behind Championship leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers and City boss Alex McLeish says his players need to function more as a team if they are to end their barren spell.
"We can't afford to play as individuals and I think at times players may be trying too hard to impress," McLeish said. "It's my job to get the best out of them. We've got to get back to being a team that sticks together.
"It's time they thought about the rewards for them here and how much we really want this."
Relegated from the Premier League last season, Birmingham have not been forced to make too many changes to their squad, although Daniel De Ridder, Mikael Forssell and Olivier Kapo did depart St Andrews in the summer.
However, Kevin Phillips arrived on a free transfer from rivals West Bromwich Albion and the diminutive yet prolific striker has already hit five goals this term.
Another hitman to sign on at St Andrews was Marcus Bent, who joined from the Addicks after his season long-loan spell at Wigan Athletic came to an end last May.
Bent moved to the West Midlands in a deal that could be worth in excess of £1m to the Addicks, and penned a three-year contract at St Andrews.
He had been linked with fellow Championship club Cardiff City, but it was Birmingham who snapped up the 30-year-old marksman.
Hammersmith-born Bent started the first four league and cup games for Charlton last season, netting the club's opening Championship goal against Scunthorpe United, before joining Wigan on loan for the remainder of the campaign, playing a key role in their successful battle against relegation from the Premier League.
Indeed, Wigan's survival benefited the Addicks' coffers under the terms of the temporary agreement, with Charlton receiving an additional payment when they secured their top-flight status.
Bent scored seven goals to finish as the Latics' top scorer, but failed to find the back of the net after the turn of the year, and Wigan - and ex-Birmingham - boss Steve Bruce decided against a permanent move for the six-foot-two hitman.
He left SE7 for Wigan after 52 appearances and five goals for the Addicks, one of which came in a 3-2 Charlton defeat at the JJB Stadium on November 11th, the last goal of the Iain Dowie reign.
However, he is yet to break his duck for Birmingham after starting just two games, with a further 12 appearances from the substitutes' bench.
Other well-known faces in the City squad are Northern Ireland international goalkeeper Maik Taylor, while the likes of Liam Ridgewell, Martin Taylor, Nicky Hunt and Radhi Jaidi operate in defence.
On-loan West Ham United midfielder Nigel Quashie is set to start in midfield, with ex-Everton man Lee Carsley and Sebastian Larsson alongside him in the engine room, but club captain Damien Johnson is not ready to feature after only recently returning to full training after undergoing back surgery.
The 29-year-old has completed a rigorous rehabilitation programme following the operation in the summer.
"He's started training with the lads for the first time in four or five months," McLeish said. "It's magnificent to see him out there again. His enthusiasm is superb and I hope that rubs off on everybody else.
"He knows his way around English football and I wouldn't have any worries about pitching him back in once he's fully fit because you know what you're going to get from a guy like Damien.”
McLeish has an array of riches to choose from up front with Phillips, Bent, Scotland star McFadden, Cameron Jerome and Quincy Owusu-Abeyie all vying for starting roles.
Attendances in B9 have been disappointing this term and McLeish knows his side needs to put in a big performance against the Addicks if they are to get back to winning ways and convince supporters they have what it takes to secure an immediate return to the Premier League.
"We'll certainly be looking to put things right this weekend and we need a big, big reaction from the guys. I'm sure we'll get that," said McLeish.
"This weekend our players have to show our supporters how much this challenge to get back to the Premier League means to them.
"I would like to think they can show a different tempo this weekend to the one at Forest (last weekend), they can excite the fans, we can get them going and that they can make the fans join in, in terms of giving us the extra energy."
Past meetings
Charlton's last trip to St Andrews came with both sides in the Premier League and saw the Addicks record a 1-0 win in September 2005, thanks to a Darren Bent strike.
Later that season, Bent was again on target and former Blue Bryan Hughes also netted as Charlton secured a 2-0 win at The Valley.
City caused the Addicks few problems in the Premier League, with the Blues registering just a single victory from the seven top-flight encounters.
That was in the 2002/03 season at The Valley when goals from Christophe Dugarry and Robbie Savage earned Blues a 2-0 win. Since then though, Charlton have won three of the five contests with a couple of draws.
Matt Holland's memorable double gave the Addicks a 2-1 win at St Andrews the following year and then Talal El Karkouri, Shaun Bartlett and Danny Murphy were on target in an impressive Charlton display at The Valley.
The first meeting between the sides came in the fourth round of the FA Cup at St Andrews when Birmingham defeated the Addicks 1-0 on January 27th, 1934.
Overall, Charlton have tasted victory 20 times to City's 17, with 16 draws.
Team news
Pardew admitted on Thursday that he was unlikely to change his side or formation from the draw at Plymouth, although Luke Varney was struggling with a slight knock sustained in training this week.
Varney, though, is expected to be fit to take his place on the right of a five-man Addicks midfield, with Hameur Bouazza on the left and Jose Semedo sitting just behind Nicky Bailey and Holland in the middle.
Semedo was stretchered off at Home Park with cramp in both calves but is expected to start only his second game in the centre of the park this season after previous stints at right-back.
In defence, Linvoy Primus stepped in after injury to replace Martin Cranie and is again expected to partner skipper Mark Hudson at centre-half, with Yassin Moutaouakil and Youga at right and left-back respectively.
Gray is poised to play the lone frontman role, but Chris Dickson is set to miss out on a place on the bench after picking up a slight knee injury at Plymouth.
Ticket news
Tickets will be available on the day from St Andrews for fans travelling to Birmingham City this weekend - and supporters can also listen to live audio commentary via new Addicks video website CAFC TV.
The Blues confirmed on Thursday morning that tickets will be available from St Andrews ahead of kick-off on Saturday, priced £15 adults, £7 over 65s and U16s, and £5 U11s, but fans will only be able to pay with cash at the away turnstiles.
The Addicks have received an allocation of around 1,500 places, of which plenty remain. There are six wheelchair spaces, which are priced £15 (including a free helper).
Tickets will be on sale from the Valley commercial centre until 2pm on Friday. It is no longer possible to book online, via post, or from the Bexleyheath retail outlet.
Birmingham have also informed the club that any supporter who is in possession of a concession ticket may be required to prove their age at the turnstiles. If this cannot be provided, and Birmingham feel that someone should have paid for an adult ticket, they reserve the right to refuse admission.
Three Valley Away coaches had completely sold out by Thursday morning, and fans can read Ian Cartwright's away travel guide to Birmingham City here.
Those supporters not making their way to the West Midlands, however, can still follow all the action at St Andrews via CAFC TV.
Live commentary of the match will unfortunately not be available on either BBC LONDON 94.9 or BBC Radio Kent - but subscribers to CAFC TV will be able to follow all the action live thanks to audio commentary provided by BBC LONDON 94.9 commentators.
CAFC TV subscribers will also be able to take advantage of text commentary, a constantly updating league table and match statistics.
Of course, www.cafc.co.uk will still have all the team news prior to kick-off and a full match report and reaction from Pardew after the final whistle.
And from Sunday afternoon - 24 hours after the game has finished - CAFC TV subscribers will be able to log on to the new website and see video match highlights of the game against City.
Supporters who wish to find out more about CAFC TV, from its benefits to the system requirements, can find some detailed information about the new website here. CAFC TV is a subscription service, and is priced 99p for a four-day trial, £3.99 per month, or from £34.99 per year.
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