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

The Blues were successful in a West Midlands derby against West Bromwich Albion on Friday night, whereas Cardiff's terrible form continued with a defeat to Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Match preview

Birmingham completed the double over local rivals West Brom for the first time since the 1998-1999 season after defeating Carlos Corberan's Baggies 2-0 in the Second City - a result which continued the team's upturn in form.

Hannibal Mejbri and Krystian Bielik scored either side of the half-time interval to ensure back-to-back maximums for John Eustace's men, a feat which looked unattainable just a week previous after Blues had lost five-straight second-tier matches.

That win on home soil has lifted Birmingham up to 17th in the Championship standings, nine points ahead of the relegation zone and now just eight from the playoff positions.

Those distances from the bottom three and top six suggest a quiet end to the campaign for Blues, however hardened Bluenoses will know that is never the case, with a fixture against a struggling Cardiff at home the type of game to trip Eustace's side up this campaign.

Cardiff's undesirable form since the World Cup break continued on Saturday afternoon as they fell to a fourth-consecutive defeat in the Championship at the hands of Michael Carrick's promoting-chasing Boro side.

The Bluebirds managed to score for the first time that quartet of fixtures - Sory Kaba netting for the hosts at the Cardiff City Stadium after 25 minutes - however strikes from Marcus Forss, Cameron Archer and former Birmingham man Riley McGree put the game beyond the Welsh outfit.

Sabri Lamouchi's side are hovering above the relegation zone on goal difference heading into their clash in the Second City, sitting 21st in the standings with just 29 points from 31 matches.

Cardiff fans have to go back to Bonfire night for their last victory in the second-tier, with youngster Mark Harris the matchwinner at the Stadium of Light on that particular occasion.

Birmingham City Championship form:

L

L

L

L

W

W

Birmingham City form (all competitions):

W

L

D

L

W

W

Cardiff City Championship form:

L

D

L

L

L

L

Cardiff City form (all competitions):

D

L

L

L

L

L

Team News

Birmingham trio Troy Deeney, Harlee Dean and George Hall all made their returns to action in the victory over West Brom on Friday night, with the former expected to rival Lukas Jutkiewicz and Scott Hogan for a position in attack.

Reda Khadra missed the win over the Baggies with a slight hamstring issue - Eustace is hopeful the German will be back for Tuesday night's clash with Cardiff.

Cardiff have suffered without full-back Jamilu Collins since the 28-year-old sustained a cruciate ligament injury in the draw with West Brom back in August - perhaps one reason why the Bluebirds have struggled to create clear-cut chances.

Ebou Adams's Cardiff career is yet to take off - the midfielder has not featured for Lamouchi's men all season due to a leg injury, with the 27-year-old set to be back later this month.

Birmingham City possible starting lineup:

Ruddy; Colin, Sanderson, Long, Trusty; Bielik, Bacuna, Chong, Hannibal; Deeney, Hogan

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:

Allsopp; Romeo, Kipre, McGuiness, O'Dowda; Philogene-Bidace, Sawyers, Ralls, Ojo; Kaba, Robinson

We say: Birmingham City 1-1 Cardiff City

Birmingham are coming into this clash after the high of derby day success over West Brom on Friday night, a feeling that has not tended to suit Eustace's side this season in the following matches.

Previews by email