Match Previews

Match Preview | Birmingham City v Albion

Conor Townsend in the away kit at Burnley

West Bromwich Albion travel to St. Andrew's to take on local rivals Birmingham City on Friday night (ko 8pm).

Both sides head into this weekend's fixture on the back of victories last time out in the Sky Bet Championship, with the Baggies beating Coventry City 1-0 at The Hawthorns and the Blues dramatically winning 4-3 at Swansea City.

Albion will be aiming to strengthen their play-off hopes, while Birmingham will be determined to secure back-to-back league triumphs for the first time since October and move further away from trouble.

Okay Yokuslu and Tahith Chong fighting for the ball back at The Hawthorns in September

Follow the game live

Supporters inside and outside the United Kingdom can listen to live commentary of Albion's encounter with Birmingham City on WBA Radio.

Gez Mulholland and former midfielder Andy Johnson will bring you kick-by-kick coverage of Friday's fixture at St. Andrew's.

Audio passes can be purchased for £2.50 by clicking here.

Live updates will also be posted across the club's social media channels throughout the evening.

WBA TV Matchday

Our opponents

Saturday's victory at Swansea City was a big boost for the Blues having lost five successive Sky Bet Championship matches prior to their trip to South Wales.

That triumph, sealed by Auston Trusty's 97th-minute winner, opened up extra breathing room between John Eustace's men and the second-tier danger zone.

Birmingham City made a strong start to the campaign and lost just three league matches from the start of September until Christmas Day, but a poor opening to 2023 pushed them back down towards the lower reaches of the division.

Friday's hosts will want to improve their form in front of their own supporters after delivering just one win in their last eight matches in all competitions at St. Andrew's - a 3-2 success against Reading in December.

Eustace, a former Coventry City, Stoke City, Watford and Derby midfielder, has been in charge of the club since the start of July and has previous coaching experience with Kidderminster Harriers, QPR and the Republic of Ireland national team.

The Blues secured a thrilling win over Swansea last Saturday afternoon

From the Albion Archive 

Albion claimed the bragging rights over Blues with a 2-1 victory in the fourth round of the FA Cup in January 2015.

Victor Anichebe bagged a brace at St Andrew's, with Blues' goal coming from Jonathan Grounds. 

Check out the highlights below.

One for the stattos

Albion boast the stronger head-to-head record, with 60 victories to their name compared to Birmingham City's 37.

However, the Baggies have only won one of their last four games against the Blues and they'll be desperate to change that on Friday.

Karlan Grant scored the only goal of the game when Albion last beat Blues in October 2021

Colours for the road

The Baggies will wear their green and yellow away kit at Birmingham City.

Albion have wore those famous colours in memorable victories at St. Andrew's before in December 2019 (3-2) and November 2001 (1-0).

Erik Pieters in the 2022/23 away kit

Ticket details

Tickets swiftly sold out for Albion's visit to St. Andrew's this weekend.

The Baggies will be backed by 2,277 supporters in Small Heath on Friday night.