Birmingham City are approaching do or die territory in their quest to remain in the Championship.
A disappointing defeat to Cardiff City on Wednesday left Blues 23rd in the Championship with four games to play. The first of those comes against Coventry City at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park today.
Blues desperately need three points before their away double-header against Rotherham United and Huddersfield Town.
Coventry are chasing success at the other end of the Championship table. The FA Cup semi-finalists are currently seventh and need the points to chase down sixth-placed Norwich, who Blues face on the final day.
Gary Rowett has won one of his four games as interim manager. He will be hoping to double his wins tally today.
Alex Dicken will bring you live updates, analysis and reaction from the big match in B9…
Report and ratings
Birmingham City showed they are up for the relegation fight by thumping Coventry City 3-0 at St Andrew’s.
An own goal from Bobby Thomas set Blues on their way in the 12th minute before Ivan Sunjic doubled their lead before half-time. Jay Stansfield finished off a well-worked team move to seal the points before the hour.
Bristol City's late equaliser against Huddersfield Town means Blues are back in 21st, one point above the Terriers who occupy the final relegation place. Blues have again seized control of their own destiny.
Check out our report and ratings HERE
FT: Blues 3-0 Coventry
The perfect performance at St Andrew's. Thomas (OG), Sunjic and Stansfield seal a big win.
Last change for Blues
Final change sees Gary Gardner replace Paik for the final few minutes.
Hogan almost got in on the act just. He headed straight at Collins after a clever cut-back by Paik.
Two more Blues changes
Two more changes: Juninho Bacuna and Scott Hogan on for Miyoshi and Stansfield.
Stansfield takes the adulation of The Tilton as he walks around the pitch. 'Sign him up' is the chant.
Two Blues subs
First two Blues changes: Roberts and Anderson replaced by Jordan James and George Hall. Anderson has been good, Roberts has been brilliant.
A first Blues appearance under Rowett for Hall after three games on the sidelines.
26,811 inside St Andrew's today. That puts it in the top three attendances this season. As Wagner said at the Open House, when St Andrew's is full, Blues win.
3-0 Blues!
Jay Stansfield makes it 3-0 in front of The Tilton!
What a goal. Blues completely picked Coventry apart. Bielik instrumental in stepping into midfield to dictate the move, Tyler Roberts with an outrageous pass, and Stansfield with a first-time finish.
Second half begins
Back underway for the second half. Coventry are making three changes... Thomas, Bidwell and Torp off for Dasilva, Tavares and Eccles. Blues are unchanged.
The Sky Blues have imnmediately put Blues on the back foot. Palmer's shot is palmed away by Ruddy and Blues get the ball clear.
HT: Blues 2-0 Coventry
An own goal from Bobby Thomas and Ivan Sunjic's first goal in two years has put Blues on course for victory.
Blues have been superb to a man. Bielik and Sanderson have been dominant, Sunjic and Paik energetic and combative, and Blues have had quality with their four attackers.
What a half of football. Now for another of guts, grit and desire.
Sunjic makes it 2-0!
Blues have a two-goal cushion after Ivan Sunjic slams home from the edge of the box!
Paik's corner was half cleared and Sunjic fired it low past Collins. That is his first Blues goal in two years. The last came in a 6-1 defeat to Blackpool. 2-0 Blues!
Ruddy gets away with one
Big let off for John Ruddy. He came out and headed it straight to Haji Wright. Wright lobbed him but it bounced onto the crossbar. Phew!
At the other end, Blues look capable of scoring every time they enter Coventry's final third. It's been a while since I've been able to write that!
Sunjic in the book
The Croatian goes into Thomas Bramall's book early for a foul on Kasey Palmer. It's probably one Bramall could have let go in fairness and the crowd aren't happy.
They respond with Sunjic's terrace chant. This blog is probably not the place to repeat that one.
Blues lead!
It's gone in off Bobby Thomas! Blues take the lead inside 12 minutes.
Keshi Anderson pulled it across and it deflected into the far corner off Thomas. Fantastic pass by Tyler Roberts to release Anderson. Great start! 1-0 Blues!
Miyoshi goes close
Inches wide from Miyoshi! Great build-up by Blues and a superb cross from Buchanan. It fell to Miyoshi at the far post and he hit the side-netting.
Blues have worked it through the thirds well. Tyler Roberts is taking up lots of good positions and knitting things together.
Coventry start quickly
Van Ewijk has just given Buchanan the slip too easily on the right. His cross came to nothing but Palmer retrieved the ball and found van Ewijk at the far post. The Dutchman shot wide but the referee gave a corner. Thankfully, the corner came to nothing.
Bielik has started to Sanderson's right, which is a slight surprise to me. Bielik played to Sanderson's left when they were successfully paired together in January.
It's kicked off
This definitely has the feel of an enormous game. The atmosphere inside St Andrew's is akin to those wins over Sunderland and Preston.
Chairman Tom Wagner has done his bit pre-match to rev up the crowd. It's now over to the Blues players to deliver...
Warm ups done
Blues have just concluded their warm up with a few sprints towards the Tilton. Ashley Cole had some words of encouragement for Ethan Laird as the players headed for the tunnel.
There's a big crowd expected at St Andrew's today. Around 25,000 are likely to flood through the gates, which should put this in Blues' top three attendances this season.
The top two attendances - against Sunderland and Preston - saw Blues record victories. Fingers crossed they can manage that today.
Coventry team news
Coventry have also lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Ex-Villa player Callum O’Hare - who scored both goals in Coventry’s win over Blues in December - has been left on the bench. Red-hot striker Ellis Simms and Haji Wright are undoubtedly Coventry’s two dangermen.
(4-2-3-1): Collins; Latibeudiere, Thomas, Kitching, Bidwell; Sheaf, Torp; Van Ewijk, Palmer, Wright; Simms
Subs: Wilson, Binks, Dasilva, Kelly, O’Hare, Godden, Eccles, Tavares, Andrews
Blues team news
Three changes for Blues: Sunjic, Tyler Roberts and Anderson replace Aiwu, Bacuna and James. It looks like Bielik will play centre-back in a 4-2-3-1.
Dembele and Hall return to the squad in place of Drameh and Pritchard.
(4-2-3-1): Ruddy; Laird, Sanderson, Bielik, Buchanan; Sunjic, Paik; Miyoshi, Roberts, Anderson; Stansfield
Subs: Etheridge, Aiwu, Gardner, Dozzell, James, Bacuna, Hall, Dembele, Hogan
Rowett's programme notes
Gary Rowett is well aware of the magnitude of this game. He has made that crystal clear in his programme notes.
"Today is our penultimate home game of the season and it is one we must make count. Every point is critical at this stage and we must find a response to what was a frustrating evening on Wednesday.
"I can accept losing games of football, but it is the way you lose. You have to go out kicking and screaming and we can not honestly say that was the case against Cardiff. Once we conceded we failed to muster a response and that simply cannot happen."
What's happening elsewhere
There are plenty of other games for Blues to keep an eye on. Plymouth’s surprise win over Leicester has almost put the Pilgrims safe.
Blackburn Rovers are away to Leeds United in the early kick-off, Huddersfield are away to Bristol City - who walloped Blackburn 5-0 in midweek. And Sheffield Wednesday host Stoke in an old-fashioned six-pointer.
Predicting the XI...
Gary Rowett will name the most important starting XI of his second Birmingham City tenure later today.
After Wednesday’s debacle against Cardiff, Blues can ill afford another defeat on home turf. Coventry City must be sent back down the M6 with their play-off dreams in tatters.
Blues, now 23rd in the Championship table, only have four games to save themselves from relegation to League One. Rowett isn’t expected to stick with the same starting line-up for a fourth game in a row after being left unimpressed in midweek.
"Of course, at this stage of the season when you perform like that there’s always going to be an opportunity potentially to make quite a few changes,” admitted Rowett. “We have tried to keep the same team, a team I felt could win games of football.
“We didn’t perform to that level and after trying to get that consistency and continuity I think it’s maybe the time to look at whether people get an opportunity."
Check out the XIs we think Rowett could select HERE
Good afternoon
Hello and welcome to our coverage from St Andrew's, where Blues could really do with three points today. Chances are running out for Gary Rowett's team after Wednesday's defeat to Cardiff.
This game isn't quite 'must win' but it's pretty darn close. Blues need something going into their crucial away games against Rotherham and Huddersfield.
Coventry (h)
— Alex Dicken (@alexedicken) April 13, 2024
Expecting to see a reaction after Wednesday. Big ask against a Coventry side gunning for the play-offs but #BCFC have to get something.
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