Birmingham City will be hoping to move away from trouble at the bottom end of the Championship when they entertain promoting-chasing Luton Town at St Andrew's on Saturday afternoon.
Blues suffered a third-straight defeat in the league in the week as they lost at Norwich City, whereas Luton were defeated by league-leaders Burnley last time out.
Match preview
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Birmingham travelled to Carrow Road on Tuesday night in hope more than in genuine expectation of a positive result against David Wagner's Canaries, with the trip ultimately ending without a tangible reward.
Norwich ran out 3-1 winners courtesy of a brace from Marcelino Nunez and a late Christos Tzolis effort, and in truth John Eustace will accept that his team were defeated by a largely superior footballing side.
The St Andrew's club dropped to 19th in the league standings following that loss in East Anglia, with 22nd-placed Huddersfield Town seven points behind Blues with a game in hand.
Eustace's men have been blighted by a lack of energy, injuries and fatigue since the Championship resumed following the World Cup break, with many of the club's key players not looking as sharp as they seemed at the start of the campaign.
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Despite being without a win in four in all competitions, the mood around Kenilworth Road and Luton at the moment is one of joy - their beloved football club is having a crack at the top six once again.
Rob Edwards has steadied the ship after the swift departure of Nathan Jones to Southampton in November, with the Hatters firmly in the Premier League promotion picture for a second season running, something that looked beyond the club a couple of years ago.
Although last Saturday ended in defeat at the hands of the division's runaway leaders Burnley, Luton will take confidence from going toe-to-toe with such formidable opposition.
The Hatters are sixth in the Championship table and inside the playoffs ahead of Slaven Bilic's Watford on goal difference, with a crunch clash against Millwall coming on Tuesday.
Team News
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Birmingham have revealed today that centre-back Dion Sanderson is likely to miss the remainder of the season due to a recurring back issue - the 22-year-old has been an integral part of the Blues backline this term alongside Auston Trusty and Harlee Dean.
Troy Deeney suffered a hamstring strain in the loss at Huddersfield and is expected to be out for over a month, meaning that the goalscoring burden falls firmly on the shoulders of Scott Hogan.
Krystian Bielik and Reda Khadra are both doubts for the visit of the Hatters due to leg and hamstring issues respectively, with the inclusion of either having the potential to change the course of the afternoon for Blues.
Luton will be without Tom Lockyer for the trip to St Andrew's after the defender received his marching orders against Burnley last time out, with Daniel Potts the likely replacement in the back three.
Edwards's men will also be missing Cody Drameh after the young full-back picked up a knock in the clash with the Clarets - the Leeds United loanee is expected to be back in action next month.
Birmingham City possible starting lineup:
Ruddy; Colin, Dean, Trusty, Longelo; Bielik, Hannibal, Gardner, Chong; Jutkiewicz, Hogan
Luton Town possible starting lineup:
Horvath; Burke, Potts, Osho; Doughty, Nakamba, Mpanzu, Bell, Clark; Morris, Adebayo
We say: Birmingham City 1-2 Luton Town
Birmingham were beginning to get their small squad back to full fitness before injuries in key areas hit the camp in recent matches, and the XI on the pitch have failed to impress over the past week.
Luton will be targeting a trip to a half-empty St Andrew's as a chance to get back to winning ways, and we believe that they will do just that on Saturday.
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Carter White
