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

Birmingham City and Hull City meet on Saturday afternoon with both clubs struggling for consistency as they see their respective seasons peter out.

The Blues are currently 18th in the Championship table on 40 points, three points ahead of the Tigers who sit in 20th.

Match preview

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Birmingham won for only the second time in nine matches as they triumphed 2-1 away at Bristol City last weekend.

Manchester United loanee Tahith Chong scored his first goal in English football and academy graduate Nico Gordon netted his first senior goal.

Lee Bowyer's side have won just once in their last four games at St Andrew's and only two teams have conceded more goals at home in the Championship this season.

The Blues are winless in their last five meetings with Hull and lost 2-0 at the MKM Stadium in this season's reverse fixture in November.

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However, the Tigers have an atrocious record at St Andrew's, having won on only two of their 31 visits over the last 111 years.

The current side are unbeaten in three away games though, their joint-longest run without defeat on the road this season.

Shota Arveladze has won just two of his nine games in charge after replacing Grant McCann following the club's takeover in January.

Former manager Steve Bruce got the better of Hull last weekend as his West Brom side won 2-0 at the MKM Stadium.

Only Peterborough United and Barnsley (both 25) have scored fewer goals in the Championship this season than the Tigers (30).

Team News

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Jeremie Bela is set to return for Birmingham after missing last weekend's win over Bristol City through illness.

Centre-back Teden Mengi will also be available for selection again after recovering from a hamstring injury that has ruled him out of the last four games.

Maxime Colin could train for the first time on Friday following a thigh problem, but is unlikely to be ready for the match. George Friend and Troy Deeney remain sidelined.

Hull will be boosted by the return of Marcus Forss, who has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury.

Tom Eaves and Allahyar Sayyadmanesh both made their returns from the sidelines as substitutes last weekend, so are also contenders to start if Shota Arveladze wants to shake up his attack.

Mallik Wilks is nearing a return to fitness, but Nathan Baxter, Lewie Coyle and Josh Emmanuel are all long-term absentees.

Birmingham City possible starting lineup:

Etheridge; Gordon, Roberts, Pedersen; Graham, Gardner, Bacuna, Bela; Hernandez, Taylor, Chong

Hull City possible starting lineup:

Ingram; Jones, Greaves, McLoughlin; Longman, Docherty, Smallwood, Fleming; Honeyman, Lewis-Potter; Forss

We say: Birmingham City 2-1 Hull City

Both teams have struggled for victories of late, but they should each see this as a winnable fixture against a club in a similar position. We think that Birmingham will just edge it as they are looking a stronger side as they continue to get players back from injury.