Preview: Birmingham City vs. Swansea City - prediction, team news, lineups

Birmingham City are seeking their first win since returning to Championship action last month as they prepare to welcome promotion-chasing Swansea City to St Andrew's.

The Blues have drawn two and lost two since the restart, leaving them down in 17th place, while Swansea are in eighth after a mixed set of results on their return to action.

Match preview

Three victories in a row in early February had Birmingham looking up at the playoffs, but they have failed to win any of their last nine matches since then.

That run includes back-to-back defeats at the hands of Huddersfield Town and Fulham - the latter a cruel 1-0 loss after Josh Onomah struck in the 95th minute at Craven Cottage.

Birmingham's luck is well and truly out, then, and any hopes of a promotion push have long been out of the question.

Indeed, with five games remaining City are not yet entirely out of the relegation picture, sitting as they do just five points and five places above the dropzone.

Pep Clotet's men still have Charlton Athletic and Stoke City, the two sides directly below them, to face during the run-in, so it could yet be a nervy end to the campaign.

A win over Swansea in midweek would go a long way to ending any tension for Clotet, who announced during the lockdown that he will leave St Andrew's later this summer.

Swansea are in need of the three points for a different reason, with the gap on bitter rivals Cardiff City in the final playoff spot standing at four points.

The Swans kept their campaign alive with a 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday, coming on the back of disappointing results and performances against Luton Town and Millwall.

This trip to lowly Birmingham is by no means a gimme, though the Blues have failed to win any of their last five home matches and looked deflated after the late loss at Fulham.

Steve Cooper's men are also unbeaten in their last four meetings with Birmingham, a run that includes a 3-0 victory in the reverse fixture 11 months ago.

Birmingham City's Championship form: DLDDLL

Swansea City's Championship form: DDWLDW

Team News

Former Swansea midfielder Josh McEachran is Birmingham's only confirmed absentee for this midweek clash after sustaining a serious knee injury in February.

Lukas Jutkiewicz dropped to the bench against Fulham but may well be recalled here, which could mean Scott Hogan being deployed in a wide position.

Young midfielder Jude Bellingham, rumoured to be on the verge of a move to Borussia Dortmund, seems certain to start in attack alongside Jeremie Bela and Hogan.

As for Swansea, Jordan Garrick is serving the last of a three-game ban following his sending off against Luton recently.

Cooper left out Mike van der Hoorn and Ben Cabango in an attempt to freshen up his side at the weekend, though he may recall the defensive duo on Wednesday.

The three-at-the-back system worked well, but Wayne Routledge looked out of place on the left and may make way here.

Birmingham City possible starting lineup: Camp; Colin, Roberts, Clarke-Salter, Pedersen; Sunjic, Gardner; Hogan, Bellingham, Bela; Jutkiewicz

Swansea City possible starting lineup: Woodman; Cabango, Guehi, Van der Hoorn; Roberts, Fulton, Grimes, Naughton; Gallagher; Ayew, Brewster

We say: Birmingham City 0-1 Swansea City

Both teams still have something to play for in the final stretch of the season, with Birmingham looking to make certain of their second-tier status and Swansea chasing down the final playoff spot. Boosted by their return to winning ways last time out, we are backing the Swans to edge Wednesday's clash in the Midlands.