Premier League Preview: Birmingham City - Sunderland

All the Yeung Blues

Birmingham City seem to be on the cusp of a bright new era after the takeover by Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung, who has promised manager Alex McLeish up to £40 million to spend in the January transfer window.

Of course, the Scot needs to collect enough points by then to make the Blues an attractive proposition to any glittering names he might have lined up to bring to St Andrews, and that must be where his focus, and that of the players and fans, remains at this moment in time.

Birmingham are a well-organised team of grafters who have shown that they are well-capable of grinding their way to clean sheets. They are very difficult to break down.

Scoring goals remains a major problem though, and with James McFadden still struggling to hit top form after a season disrupted by injury it is difficult to see where the sparkle is going to come from.

Christian Benitez looks a good prospect, but 'Chucho' has yet to make the most of his obvious talent, at least not in a Blues shirt.

Life's a beach for Black Cats

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has admitted that he is still bitter about the manner of his departure from St Andrews in 2007.

Coincidentally, it largely came about because of speculation about the ownership of the club, at a time when Yeung was making his first attempt to buy the Blues.

"What disappointed me most in the end was the way it finished," Bruce told BBC Sport this week.

"After six years, you would think there would be a little bit of respect. But it became nasty and left a bad taste."

However, Bruce is one of football's more reasonable men, and he will not allow any bad memories to spoil preparations for an important game for his rapidly improving side.

Last week's 1-0 win over Liverpool may have been partly due to the freakish appearance of a large red beach ball, but Sunderland's performance was no freak – they deserved to win, even without the bizarre slice of luck.

FORM GUIDE

Birmingham City

Oct 17: Arsenal 3-1 Birmingham
Oct 3: Burnley 2-1 Birmingham
Sep 26: Birmingham 1-2 Bolton Wanderers
Sep 22: Sunderland 2-0 Birmingham
Sep 19: Hull City 0-1 Birmingham

Sunderland

Oct 17: Sunderland 1-0 Liverpool
Oct 3: Manchester United 2-2 Sunderland
Sep 27: Sunderland 5-2 Wolves
Sep 22: Sunderland 2-0 Birmingham
Sep 19: Burnley 3-1 Sunderland

TEAM NEWS

Birmingham City

Teemu Tainio is ineligible to face his parent club. Gregory Vignal might return, and Stuart Parnaby and Franck Queudrue are back in training. Keith Fahey (ankle) is a major doubt, whilst David Murphy (knee), Giovanny Espinoza (ankle) and Martin Taylor (ankle) all miss out.

Last starting XI (vs Arsenal): Hart, Carr, Roger Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Larsson, Ferguson, Bowyer, Carsley, McFadden, Jerome.

Sunderland

The Black Cats are without Lee Cattermole, sidelined for 12 weeks with medial ligament damage sustained against Liverpool. Striker Kenwyne Jones was also stretchered off last week with an ankle problem, but is expected to be fit. John Mensah is also a doubt with a calf problem.

Last starting XI (vs Liverpool): Gordon, Bardsley, Turner, Ferdinand, McCartney, Malbranque, Cana, Cattermole, Reid, Bent, Jones.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Birmingham City

Lee Bowyer seems to still possess a knack of making key contributions at vital times, as his goal at Arsenal last week showed. Often underrated, the midfielder with the 'bad boy' reputation could well be the man whose work-rate and flashes of quality change the game. He is City's top scorer with three goals in all competitions this season, and his clash with Lorik Cana should be worth watching.

Sunderland

It is difficult to focus on anyone beyond Darren Bent at the moment. Bent is currently in a purple patch, as his goal against Liverpool confirmed, and that makes him very much Sunderland's potential match-winner.

PREDICTION

The in-form Black Cats will leave St Andrews victorious, though not without a few bumps and bruises.

Birmingham City 1-2 Sunderland

Zack Wilson, Goal.com UK