The hosts are enjoying a good run of form early on this term, while Millwall are experiencing an inconsistent start to their second-tier campaign.
Match preview
Birmingham maintained their 100 per cent record at St Andrew’s in the Championship by beating newly-promoted Plymouth Argyle last weekend in the Second City.
The Blues seized the lead early on thanks to Scott Hogan’s first goal of the season, but the Green Army took control of the game and were rewarded when Ryan Hardie equalized after halftime.
For the second game in a row, John Eustace’s men won in extra time, with new signing Jay Stansfield providing a spectacular volley to secure all three points.
Birmingham City are now third in the Championship table, one of five clubs yet to lose a game in the second division, however the Blues did exit the EFL Cup on Tuesday night at the hands of Cardiff City.
Gary Rowett is back at St Andrew’s with a Millwall side who have fallen short of playoff ambitions in the past three seasons, with supporters hoping the 2023-24 can finally be their time to earn a coveted top-six finish.
The Lions broke a three-game losing streak in all competitions by barely defeating Stoke City at The Den on Saturday, with former Hibernian striker Kevin Nisbet scoring the game’s only goal.
Rowett’s men are 11th in the second-tier rankings, but if everything goes right for them elsewhere this weekend, they might be level on points with the top six.
Millwall have a number of ex-Birmingham City players on their books, including Wes Harding and Matija Sarkic, who will likely face their former club on Saturday.
Team News
Birmingham have a host of injury concerns ahead of this weekend, with both Ethan Laird and Siriki Dembele sidelined until after the international break due to muscle strains.
Koji Miyoshi has bagged a goal and an assist in his last two Championship appearances, and the attacker will be tasked with providing for Hogan in attack on Saturday.
Lukas Jutkiewicz will begin his three-match suspension for a red card collected in the EFL Cup loss on Tuesday night, with Eustace deciding against appealing the decision.
Millwall remain without the services of Casper de Norre due to a knock – the midfielder made the switch from Belgian Pro League outfit OH Leuven in July on a permanent deal.
George Honeyman has not featured for the Lions since the loss at his former club Hull City on April 10, and the winger is not expected back in first-team action until the latter stages of September.
Birmingham City possible starting lineup:
Ruddy; Bacuna, Sanderson, Long, Buchanan; Bielik, Sunjic, Anderson, Miyoshi, Stansfield; Hogan
Millwall possible starting lineup:
Sarkic; Leonard, Hutchinson, Cooper; Norton-Cuffy, Mitchell, Saville, Bryan, Flemming; Bradshaw, Nisbet
We say: Birmingham City 0-1 Millwall
Birmingham have done superbly to commence their campaign with 10 points from a possible 12, however we feel that Blues’ luck in terms of last-minute winners is set to run out this weekend.
Millwall will happily concede possession to the hosts at St Andrew’s on Saturday – a tactic which often works well against a Birmingham side who like to hit opponents on the counter attack.
