Football VAVEL

Birmingham City vs Fulham preview: How to watch, kick-off time, predicted lineups, team news, officiating and ones to watch

Two teams with bright starts to the Sky Bet Championship clash heads this coming Wednesday.

Birmingham City vs Fulham preview: How to watch, kick-off time, predicted lineups, team news, officiating and ones to watch
Above: Troy Deeney, Maxime Colin and Jeremie Bela all celebrate Birmingham City's second goal against Derby County. (Photo taken by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
gabriel-ramsey
By Gabriel Ramsey

Two teams who have had bright starts to the Sky Bet Championship season clash heads this coming Wednesday, at 19:45 BST, as Birmingham City challenge Fulham.

The travelling Cottagers will be looking to bounce back from their shock defeat at the hands of Blackpool last Saturday, suffering their first loss of the season.

Lee Bowyer's Blues have had a promising start to the campaign, challenging for the play-offs and having also lost just one game all season. 

These two sides have the two best defensive records in the division,
having conceded the least amount of goals per match.

  • Team news

Birmingham will be without winger Ivan Sanchez, who recently underwent surgery on his pubis.

Dion Sanderson and Neil Etheridge continue their return to fitness, with Sanderson previously picking up a minor injury and Etheridge still recovering from covid-19.

Young striker Adan George will be a doubt for the majority of the season, after suffering damage to his ACL.

Meanwhile with Fulham, manager Marco Silva provided a positive update with regards to Harry Wilson, who suffered a dizzying injury on international duty but is back in contention for tomorrow.

Breakout star Fabio Carvalho is dealing with a minor foot injury and will remain absent. 

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  • Predicted lineups

Birmingham City: Sarkic; Colin, Roberts, Dean, Pedersen, Bela, Woods, Sunjic, Chong, Hogan, Deeney

Fulham: Gazzaniga; Odoi, Adarabioyo, Ream, Robinson, Seri, Reed, Reid, Quina, Cavaleiro, Mitrovic

  • Ones to watch

Tahith Chong

A player who has had an immensely bright start to his career in the Championship, Manchester United loanee Chong is enjoying Birmingham.

The 21-year old has demonstrated pace and power when playing in a front three, teaming up with experienced forwards such as Scott Hogan and Troy Deeney. With an average match rating of 7.16 and a scintillating performance recently against Luton Town, Chong has shown he has potential to become one of the Championship's most feared forwards; and perhaps even the Premier League one day too. 

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Aleksandar Mitrovic

An established striker at this level and in the Premier League, Mitrovic has had a fantastic beginning to the season.

With four goals and two assists in six matches, Mitrovic averages a 7.4 rating. Leading the line in a 4-2-3-1 formation, his towering presence and brute strength terrorises the defenders in the Championship. 

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  • Officiating

Referee: David Webb

Assistant referees: Mark Pottage/Akil Howson

Fourth official: Ben Toner

  • Previous meeting

These two sides have faced one another a lot in recent years, with both spending time in the Championship. But most recently it was actually an EFL Cup clash between Birmingham and Fulham, and just a few weeks ago. 

Goals from Jay Stansfield and Antonee Robinson saw off the challenge of the Blues. It was a dominating display from Fulham, who had 17 shots compared to Birmingham's measly two.

  • How to watch

​​​​​​​This game is a 19:45 BST kick-off, but unfortunately cannot be watched in the UK. However, it can be watched internationally through the clubs' streaming services on their website. Tickets are also still available for the match, however pay on the gate is not permitted due to COVID-19 restrictions.