The Rams face the Blues on Saturday ahead of a congested fixture schedule in the coming weeks.
Phillip Cocu will also be wanting to use any momentum gained from a late point at Leeds to kick-start his sides’ season.
The Opposition
Birmingham come into the game in 11th, with new manager Pep Clotet picking up four wins from his first eight league games of the season.
Clotet has used many different systems so far this season, his favoured being a 4-4-2 that has been used in the last three league matches. The Spaniards’ style has often surrendered possession to the opposition, averaging 38.77% possession in league games this season.
It has seen a mixed bag of results, ones where Birmingham have looked resolute defensively before striking such as the 1-0 victory over Brentford. However, it has also seen games where the Blues have collapsed, losing 3-0 to both Swansea and Nottingham Forest.
Previous Meetings
Both sides faced each other in the league last season with the Rams bettering Birmingham 3-1 in the first meeting at Pride Park in November. Lukas Jutkiewicz opened the scoring on ten minutes, but a second half comeback was on the cards as Mason Bennett, Harry Wilson and Jack Marriott all pitched in.
The reverse fixture was a first half goal fest, as all four goals came within the opening 28 minutes with the game ending 2-2. Jutkiewicz yet again started the scoring, bagging a goal in the second minute before Martyn Waghorn equalised just five minutes later. The Blues took the lead again through Michael Morrison in the 18th minute before Richard Keogh levelled it just ten minutes later.
Team News
Richard Keogh is set to be side-lined for the rest of the season through an off the field incident that has affected his knee. The involvement of Mason Bennett and Tom Lawrence in the match day squad is a doubt due to their involvement in the incident. However, Cocu confirmed that Jayden Bogle is set to be involved in the final 18.
Saturday could see Clotet reintroduce Cheick Keita and Fran Villalba from injury. Birmingham will be without winger Jefferson Montero and long-term absentee Maikel Kieftenbeld ahead of the fixture.
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