Official Boothen Roar Match Preview: Birmingham v Stoke

Last updated : 11 February 2011 By Dan Buxton

The Potters travel to Birmingham hoping to make it six away wins this season.

Stoke sit 9th in the Premier League and will be up to try and get rid of any lingering relegation fears and hopefully push themselves closer to a european position. The hosts are seven places and six points behind the Potters.

Stoke have a good away record this season and have already beaten Newcastle, Cardiff, West Brom, Wolves and Blackburn on their travels. Birmingham have won only three home league games this season but have also only lost twice, with seven draws at St. Andrews.

In the 42 matches between these sides at Birmingham, the Potters have won 12, the hosts 22 and ten have been drawn. Last time the pair clashed at St. Andrews the game ended in a goalless draw,even though Dave Kitson saw an effort cross the line but not get given. Overall Birmingham have won 31 times to the Potters 41 victories.

The referee is Mark Halsey. This season the former goalkeeper took charge of the Potters as they won 2-0 at home to both Fulham(Carling Cup) and Liverpool, aswell as the 1-1 FA Cup home draw with Cardiff. He refereed Birmingham in their 0-0 home draw with Liverpool and their 1-0 home win over Chelsea.

The Met Office report that it will be sunny, temperatures of a mildish 8 degrees celsius, very good visibility and a 9mph wind, with gusts of 21mph.

Prediction: In an entertaining game City come back from an early goal from Cameron Jerome to net twice in the second half from John Carew and Jermaine Pennant, to increase the boo's from the home support for the pair