Two exciting attacks meet in the second city
Birmingham City welcome Championship league leaders Queens Park Rangers on Friday evening.
The Blues have recovered from a slow start under John Eustace and are showing a lot of promise to comfortably maintain their second tier status this season.
Birmingham are lacking when it comes to squad depth but at the moment the injury list is not too extensive and for that reason they are well positioned to entertain outside play-off hopes for a while longer.
The Blues have one of the most watchable midfield contingents with Krystian Bielik, Tahith Chong and Hannibal Mejbri, the former on loan from Derby County and the latter from Manchester United.
Process
Rangers are performing better in both boxes at the moment and will be buoyed by manager Mick Beale rejecting the Wolverhampton Wanderers job last week.
The West Londoners are overperforming to be at the summit of the table, but they do have individuals in the squad, the likes of Ilias Chair, Ethan Laird and Lyndon Dykes can cause problems against any side in the division on their day.
In terms of the expected goals (xG) data the two sides are very close together, and considering the slow start to the season there is an argument that they are in better shape, which is part of the reason why they are narrow favourites despite hosting the league leaders.
It will be an interesting tactical battle with Birmingham deploying a three at the back formation at the moment, while Rangers are playing a more attacking four at the back system.
The duels on the flanks will be particularly interesting with Laird and Kenneth Paal posing significant attacking threats from full back, the Blues’ wide centre backs could be important in dealing with potential overloads out wide, and Dion Sanderson and Auston Trusty have been largely up to the test so far this term.
Goals?
Both sides are creating chances freely at the moment and will fancy their chances of getting on the scoresheet, both teams score is backable under the lights and in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
No one will be rushing to back either side keeping a clean sheet, despite two good goalkeepers for the level in John Ruddy and Seny Dieng expected to start.
Blues have scored in eight of ten.
Blues have conceded in six of ten.
Blues have seen both teams score in five of ten.
Blues have seen over 2.5 goals in four of ten.
QPR have scored in eight of ten.
QPR have conceded in six of ten.
QPR have seen both teams score in five of ten.
QPR have seen over 2.5 goals in six of ten.
