Europa League
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Played
December 15, 2011 8:05 PM GMT
St. Andrew's Stadium — Birmingham
Referee:‬ S. Kever‎
Attendance:‬ 21436‎
 
24′ Adam Rooney
 

Birmingham City - NK Maribor Preview: Chris Hughton's Blues able to qualify from Group H with a home win if results elsewhere go for them

Midlands side reliant on Braga beating Club Brugge in order to progress to the knockout rounds and potentially setting up a later tie with giants such as Manchester United or City

By Matt Scott

More On :  Birmingham City, NK Maribor, Birmingham City vs NK Maribor
Chris Hughton, Birmingham City
Getty Images

 PROBABLE LINEUPS

BIRMINGHAM CITY

Myhill
Carr, Caldwell, Pablo, Murphy
Burke, Spector, Elliott, Beausejour
King, Wood
MARIBOR
 
Handanovic
Trajkovski, Arghus, Rajcevic, Potokar
Cvijanovic, Mertelj, Mezga, Ibraimi
Tavares, Volas
Chris Hughton will be hoping to build on his side's 2-1 win over Doncaster at the weekend with another win at St Andrew's with Marlon King and Chris Wood expected to continue up front after combining to score Blues' last three league goals. Hughton also has options at centre-back and is likely to choose between former Spain international Pablo and Curtis Davies to partner Stephen Caldwell at the back.

The Slovenian side have no major injury worries ahead of the trip with top scorer Dalibor Volas and key midfielder Dejan Mezga both available for the clash.

DID YOU KNOW?
  • Birmingham require a win to give themselves a chance of qualifying, but they have not managed a home win in the group stages of this season's Europa League yet.
  • They are unbeaten in their last six home games, however, since losing 3-1 to Braga in September.
  • Marlon King (pictured right), Chris Wood and David Murphy are Blues' joint top scorers in Europe this season with two goals apiece.
  • Chris Hughton's side have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last six games.
  • The tie between the sides played in Solvenia resulted in a 2-1 win for Birmingham, with Chris Burke and Wade Elliott netting.
  • Maribor are the reigning Slovenian champions.
  • They will definitely finish bottom of the group after picking up just one point so far, against Braga who have qualified for the knockout rounds.
  • Dalibor Volas will be their main goal threat having scored four of Maribor's five goals in the group stage.
  • The Slovenian outfit have committed the least fouls out of the teams in Group H but are the only side to have recieved a red card.
  • This will be Maribor's last game of 2011 as the Slovenian winter break has already begun.
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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Birmingham City 2-0 NK Maribor
    29.5 %
  • Birmingham City 1-0 NK Maribor
    11.51 %
  • Birmingham City 3-0 NK Maribor
    9.35 %
Head to Head
Europa League ‎(EL)‎ 15 Dec 2011 Birmingham City 1 - NK Maribor 0
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Europa League ‎(EL)‎ 29 Sep 2011 NK Maribor 1 - Birmingham City 2
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Last Five Matches
Birmingham City
6 Mar 2012Birmingham City 0 - Chelsea FC 2FA
18 Feb 2012Chelsea FC 1 - Birmingham City 1FA
7 Feb 2012Birmingham City 1 - Portsmouth 0ENG2
28 Jan 2012Sheffield United 0 - Birmingham City 4FA
18 Jan 2012Wolves 0 - Birmingham City 1FA
NK Maribor
15 Dec 2011Birmingham City 1 - NK Maribor 0EL
30 Nov 2011NK Maribor 3 - Club Brugge KV 4EL
3 Nov 2011Braga 5 - NK Maribor 1EL
20 Oct 2011NK Maribor 1 - Braga 1EL
29 Sep 2011NK Maribor 1 - Birmingham City 2EL
Odds
Returns: Birmingham City £14.40 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Draw £150.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Maribor £2010.00 Sportingbet Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets!
Team News
Available Squads
13Colin DoyleGoalkeeper
3David MurphyDefender
5Pablo IbáñezDefender
24Curtis DaviesDefender
23Jonathan SpectorMidfielder
11Jean BeausejourMidfielder
14Morgaro GomisMidfielder
18Keith FaheyMidfielder
22Nathan RedmondMidfielder
17Adam RooneyStriker
19Nikola ZigicStriker
1Boaz MyhillGoalkeeper
4Steven CaldwellDefender
8Guirane N'DawDefender
7Chris BurkeMidfielder
12Jordon MutchMidfielder
15Wade ElliottMidfielder
20Chris WoodStriker
33Jasmin HandanoviçGoalkeeper
4Jovan VidovićDefender
26Aleksander RajčevičDefender
44Arghus Soares BordignonDefender
22Nejc PotokarMidfielder
70Aleš MerteljMidfielder
20Goran CvijanovičMidfielder
8Dejan MezgaMidfielder
5Željko FilipovićStriker
17Dalibor VolasStriker
9Marcos Magno Morales Tavares Striker
13Matej RadanGoalkeeper
24Dejan TrajkovskiDefender
10Agim IbraimiMidfielder
6Martin MilecDefender
31Zoran LesjakMidfielder
32Robert BerićStriker
11Etien VelikonjaStriker
Players to Watch
Chris Burke
Chris Burke
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 7
Games Goals YC RC
8 1 1 0
The former Rangers man is a tricky customer on the right flank and will be looking to use his pace to get behind the Maribor defence to set up his team-mates or even grab a goal himself.
Dalibor Volas
Dalibor Volas
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 17
Games Goals YC RC
8 5 0 0
The 24-year-old is currently in his second spell with Maribor and is the club's top scorer in all competitions thanks to an effective understanding with Brazilian club captain Marcos Tavares.
Prediction
Blues will be expecting to pick up the win they need against the struggling Slovenians and will have to hold out hope that Braga are able to overcome Club Brugge to send them through.
Editor's Prediction
Birmingham City 1
Maribor 0
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Striker
Schalke 		14 3
Radamel Falcao Radamel Falcao
Striker
Atlético Madrid 		12 1
Adrián Adrián
Striker
Atlético Madrid 		10 0
Fernando Llorente Torres Fernando Llorente Torres
Striker
Bilbao 		7 2
Jonatan Ezequiel Cristaldo Jonatan Ezequiel Cristaldo
Striker
Metalist Kharki 		7 0