Leicester City will be keen to break into the top two when they take on Birmingham City at the King Power Stadium on Saturday night.
Leicester City will host Birmingham City at the King Power Stadium in a crucial Championship clash, with both teams having contrasting fortunes in recent matches.
The Foxes secured a much-needed win against Norwich City on Easter Monday after a shaky start, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall levelling the score before Stephy Mavididi and Jamie Vardy secured the victory. Their midfield trio of Wilfred Ndidi, Harry Winks, and Dewsbury-Hall has been pivotal, with Dewsbury-Hall earning a nomination for the Championship’s Player of the Season award.
Having faced Birmingham City earlier in the year in an FA Cup match, Leicester City emerged victorious with goals from Vardy, Yunus Akgun, and Dennis Praet. They will hope for a similar result on the day as the 2023/24 season enters crunch time.
With Ipswich Town and Leeds United ahead of them in the standings, the Foxes will be keen to keep within touching distance before making the most of their game in hand. Having thrown away a double point lead at the head of the table, not finishing in the top two positions would be a disaster for Leicester.
Birmingham City, under interim manager Gary Rowett, ended their winless streak with a crucial victory against Preston North End, thanks to Jay Stansfield’s goal. Despite the celebratory atmosphere at St Andrew’s, Birmingham are still fighting relegation, currently sitting 20th in the Championship.
With just two points separating them from the relegation zone, Birmingham understand the importance of securing points. Their recent record against Leicester has not been favourable, having lost their last seven meetings. However, they did manage a draw against Leicester at the King Power Stadium in April 2013.
Both teams enter Saturday’s clash with different objectives – Leicester aiming for promotion and Birmingham fighting relegation. It promises to be an intriguing battle between the two sides at the King Power Stadium. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up for the game and their tactics.
Team News & Tactics
Leicester City
The Foxes will be without Tom Cannon, who is nursing a leg injury. He joins Kasey McAteer on the sidelines as Enzo Maresca demands a final run of results from his squad to secure automatic promotion to the Premier League.
The former Manchester City man is primed to deploy his side in a 4-3-3 formation, with Mads Hermansen in goal. The shot stopper should be protected by the back four of Ricardo Pereira, Wout Faes, Jannik Vestergaard, and Callum Doyle.
Harry Winks should hold the fort in central midfield with Wilfred Ndidi and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall pushing further forward. The latter, in particular, should make a difference if he turns up for the game. Abdul Fatawu and Stephy Mavididi should provide the width, with Patson Daka leading the line. Veteran striker Jamie Vardy should come off the bench in the second half.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Hermansen; Pereira, Faes, Vestergaard, Doyle; Ndidi, Winks, Dewsbury-Hall; Fatawu, Mavididi, Daka
Birmingham City
The Blues will be without Lukas Jutkiewicz who is out injured. It has been a poor season for the St Andrew’s outfit with relegation a real possibility. Youngster Jordan James has been a rare bright spot and was nominated for the Championship Young Player of the Season award earlier in the week.
Gary Rowett will be keen to secure a second win on the trot following their win over Preston North End last time around. The 4-2-3-1 formation should give them the numbers needed in the middle of the park to make a difference, or at least try to.
John Ruddy should start in goal behind the back four of Ethan Laird, Emanuel Aiwu, Dion Sanderson, and Lee Buchanan. Paik Seung-ho and Krystian Bielik should form the double pivot, with Jordan James acting as the engine room at number 10.
Koji Miyoshi and Juninho Bacuna will provide the width, with Jay Stansfield leading the line for Birmingham vs Leicester City. The latter scored the winner against Preston North End and will hope to keep the run going.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ruddy; Laird, Aiwu, Sanderson, Buchanan; Paik, Bielik; Miyoshi, James, Bacuna; Stansfield
Key Stats
- Leicester City last lost to Birmingham City in the league in 2011. They have not lost the six games since.
- Leicester City are on a three-game winning streak against Birmingham City in the league.
- A win on the day will be Leicester City’s 28th win of the league campaign. They have only achieved more just once (31) in 2013-14.
- Birmingham City have won 70% percent of their Championship points at home. Only Rotherham United have a higher point share this season in the same category (83%).
- Leicester City have scored ten goals from turnovers this season in the competition, more than any other side in the league.
Player to Watch
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
The English midfielder’s good form at the beginning of the season coincided with Leicester City’s excellent start to the season. He scored last week against Hull City and will hope to continue that purple patch.
As long as the Foxes’ midfield does well, the team as a whole does well. Dewsbury-Hall’s ability to carry the ball forward will give Leicester City more bite going forward, giving their front three more ammo to work with.
Prediction
Leicester City 2-1 Birmingham City
Birmingham are scrapping for their lives and will need to be at their best to cause a dent in Leicester City’s season. The Foxes have let their double-digit points advantage whittle away and now have no room for error. Anything less than perfection for the remainder of the season could very well see them finish in the playoff spots.