Blues eyeing a big push for top ten spot

MAIL ANALYSIS

- By ALEX DICKEN

BIRMINGHAM City against Preston North End isn't a Championship fixture to set pulses racing.

While others are playing for promotion, the playoffs or trying to stay in the league, Blues and Preston meet in one of the more meaningless matches in this final midweek batch of fixtures.

It is a key fixture when it comes to determining who finishes where in the cluster of clubs between tenth and 17th in the table.

For Chris Davies, tenth will certainly look better than 17th come the end of the season when owners Knighthead decide which direction to go in.

After trying plenty of combinations, Davies has settled on a back four for the past two games and has been rewarded with two solid defensive performances.

The only question mark at the back is whether Bright Osayi-Samuel can shake off a dead leg in time to keep his spot at right-back.

If Osayi-Samuel isn't fit, Ethan Laird's inclusion shouldn't weaken Blues.

Davies’ alternative at right-back is Tomoki Iwata, which would allow Paik Seung-ho to resume his partnership in midfield with Jhon Solis. A combination of Solis and Paik would give Blues a bit more craft and quality on the ball, as opposed to the power and athleticism of Solis and Iwata.

Iwata's thunderous strike at Hull is likely to see Davies leave him in midfield.

The attacking quartet is up for debate. It won't be lost on Davies that Blues’ improvement and equaliser against Hull came with Marvin Ducksch and Demarai Gray on the field.