Burton Albion vs Birmingham City. Sky Bet Championship.
Pirelli StadiumAttendance4,948.
Friday 18 August 2017 18:05, UK
Jackson Irvine returns from suspension for Burton's Friday night Sky Bet Championship clash against Birmingham at the Pirelli Stadium, live on Sky Sports Football from 7pm.
The Australia international midfielder missed the defeat at Middlesbrough following his red card in the loss at Hull. Hope Akpan was sent off at the Riverside in midweek but the Brewers hope he will be available after lodging an appeal to get the decision overturned.
Defender Ben Turner will serve the final game of his five-match ban carried over from last season. Captain John Mousinho has suffered a hamstring injury in training and will struggle to play again before the international break at the end of the month while fellow defender Stephen Warnock was absent at Middlesbrough through injury and he will be assessed.
Birmingham captain Michael Morrison could play in a protective mask. The defender broke his nose and damaged a cheekbone in the draw against Bolton but manager Harry Redknapp is hopeful he will be available.
Cheikh Ndoye, who hurt a foot in the same game, should also recover in time while David Davis has been training after missing the Bolton clash with a virus. Blues will again be without both Che Adams (hamstring) and Cheick Keita (groin).
Burton won both Championship games against Birmingham last season, securing 2-0 victories both home and away.
Burton were one of three sides that Birmingham lost both games against in the Championship last term, alongside Brighton and Derby.
Burton Albion have lost their last four league games, shipping 11 goals in the process - they last suffered five defeats in a row in March 2012 (8 games).
The Blues have scored more than once in just one of their last 12 away league games, a 2-1 victory at Molineux in February.
Nigel Clough has lost just one of his last six managerial clashes against Birmingham, winning four (D1).
Burton have fired in the fewest shots on target so far in the Championship this term (2).
Burton are already in a position where you feel they need something here. They've had a terrible start and, looking forward, their fixtures don't get any easier after this. They're always going to be underdogs but their home form kept them up last season and you feel that will be key for them again.
Birmingham have had a solid start with four points from their first three games, and I think they'll nick a win at the Pirelli.
Prutton predicts: 0-1 with Clayton Donaldson to score first (28/1 with Sky Bet)