Last week the Blues played away at lowly Oxford United, who had been experiencing a bit of a revival. The visitors struggled to get into the game early but took the lead after 23 minutes when a ball bouncing around in the Oxford box went in off the back of a defender. That lit a fire under Birmingham City who proceeded to take control of the game, coming close to adding to the lead several times before Marvin Ducksch finally scored in the 66th minute, and the Blues cruised to the 2-0 win.
Ducksch has been red hot lately; of his 7 total goals 4 have been in the last 5 games and he also has an assist in that stretch.
The win did not improve the Blues’ 13th place in the table, although Bristol City and Stoke City above them both lost. Bristol is now just a point up and Stoke is up on goal difference only. Birmingham is still 5 points out of the playoff spots but could get very close this weekend; with the right results 8th or possibly 7th is attainable.
The Blues’ own job will be to beat visiting Leicester City (Saturday, 9:ooam, Paramount+). Leicester have fallen on hard times of late. The Foxes were 17th but are down to 20th in the Championship after a 6-point deduction handed down this week for breaching profit and sustainability rules. They are on a 2-game losing streak, including a 1-2 home loss to Oxford two weeks ago. Last week’s 0-2 loss to Charlton Athletic—also at home—was in part due to a 15th-minute red card to centerback Caleb Okoli, who obviously will not be available tomorrow. The Oxford loss was the last game for manager Marti Cifuentes and the team remains without a permanent head coach.
A Tuesday game follows that (2:00pm, no US TV) against West Bromwich Albion, who are 22nd. The Blues could be in very good position ahead of the F.A. Cup 4th Round coming up next weekend.
Elsewhere, the transfer window closed this past Monday and the Blues added to their defensive depth on deadline day by picking up Jonathan Panzo, previously with Portugal’s Rio Ave in the Primeira Liga. There is a chance he will play on Saturday and/or Tuesday, as captain Christoph Klarer’s wife is due to give birth any day now. There is no other news of significance.
