Blackpool v Birmingham preview

Team news ahead of Saturday's Championship clash Blackpool and Birmingham City at Bloomfield Road.

Last Updated: 29/11/11 at 09:40   

LuaLua: Could start for Blackpool

LuaLua: Could start for Blackpool

Lomana LuaLua is ready to return to Blackpool's attack.

LuaLua has impressed since joining the Seasiders following his release by Cypriot club Omonia Nicosia.

However he was a surprise exclusion from the matchday 16 for last weekend's trip to Middlesbrough and Holloway later revealed the former Newcastle forward had been dropped as punishment for missing a team meeting.

The Tangerines boss this week stated the incident is fully resolved and LuaLua will join top scorer Kevin Phillips and a fit-again Gary Taylor-Fletcher in battling for a place up-front.

Holloway has no new injury worries as his side look to extend a run of three games unbeaten in the Championship.

Jonjo Shelvey is Blackpool's form player with five goals in his last four outings.

Birmingham duo Liam Ridgewell and Morgaro Gomis will be assessed ahead of the clash.

Left-back Ridgewell has missed the club's last two matches, including Tuesday's 2-1 win against Burnley, with a thigh injury and his progress will be monitored as eighth face seventh in the Championship at Bloomfield Road.

However, should Ridgewell prove his fitness, manager Chris Hughton may prefer to continue with David Murphy following his impressive performances having come back into the side.

Midfielder Gomis has returned to training and faces a late fitness test after spending over a month out with a calf injury.

Jordon Mutch is also nearing a return from a broken ankle but is not quite ready.

Hughton made just the one change in midweek, Nikola Zigic coming in up front for Chris Wood, and he is again expected to chop and change as he continues to juggle the demands of City's hectic season.

Football365 Facebook Fan Page

The Football365 fan page is a great place to meet like minded people, have football related discussions and make new friends.

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

Championship Fixtures

There are no fixtures at present.

npower Championship

Position Team P GD PTS
1 Barnsley 0 0 0
2 Birmingham 0 0 0
3 Blackburn 0 0 0
4 Blackpool 0 0 0
5 Bolton 0 0 0
6 Bournemth 0 0 0
7 Brighton 0 0 0
8 Burnley 0 0 0
9 Charlton 0 0 0
10 Derby 0 0 0
11 Doncaster 0 0 0
12 Huddersfld 0 0 0
13 Ipswich 0 0 0
14 Leeds 0 0 0
15 Leicester 0 0 0
16 Middlesbro' 0 0 0
17 Millwall 0 0 0
18 N Forest 0 0 0
19 QPR 0 0 0
20 Reading 0 0 0
21 Sheff Wed 0 0 0
22 Watford 0 0 0
23 Wigan 0 0 0
24 Yeovil 0 0 0

Updated Tue, 18 Jun 2013

Footer 365

Transfer news: Andy Carroll passes West Ham medical ahead of Liverpool exit

Liverpool striker Andy Carroll has passed his medical with West Ham ahead of his proposed £15million move to Upton Park.

European U21 Championship: Thiago treble secures glory for Spain against Italy

Spain captain Thiago Alcantara hit a hat-trick to help his side secure U21 Euro glory with a 4-2 victory over Italy.

Jermaine Pennant agrees new one-year deal with Stoke City

Jermaine Pennant has put pen to paper on a new one-year contract with Stoke City to end speculation he was to leave.

Mail Box

Twas The Worst Game I Ever Did See...

In this Mailbox it's England v Algeria in 2010 that is seen as the nadir, but there's potential for worse, surely. Plus, one man says we should praise Rooney's honesty...

Why Doesn't Suarez Request A Transfer?

The morning mailbox ponders Luis Suarez's current predicament, cool footballers, the Lion City Cup, Spurs' transfer policy, Kanu's absence and lots more...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved