Birmingham City v Blackpool: Build-up, team news and live match updates

Less than 10 minutes to go until kick-off here at St Andrew’s.

The Blackpool fans are already in fine voice housed behind one of the goals. Shame I can’t see them properly from the main stand, which has a sloped roof.

Sounds like a good number have made the journey to the West Midlands though.

After two physically demanding games, Neil Critchley has opted to switch things up for today's trip to St Andrew's.

The Pool boss makes four changes to his side from the midweek draw against West Brom.

Jordan Gabriel is rested and drops down to the bench, which sees Dujon Sterling take his spot at right-back.

Elsewhere, Ryan Wintle is surprisingly named among the substitutes despite being a virtual ever-present since arriving on loan from Cardiff City. Callum Connolly takes his spot in central midfield alongside Kenny Dougall.

Demetri Mitchell replaces Josh Bowler in a like-for-like replacement, while Owen Dale comes in for Shayne Lavery - which sees the Seasiders revert to a 4-2-3-1 system with Gary Madine leading the line on his own.

Chris Maxwell (quad), Richard Keogh (calf), Oliver Casey (ankle), Luke Garbutt (knee), Kevin Stewart (ankle), Matty Virtue (ACL) and Grant Ward (achilles) all remain sidelined with injuries.

The likes of Sonny Carey, CJ Hamilton and Tyreece John-Jules are left out of the squad altogether.

Birmingham, meanwhile, made three changes to their side from their midweek draw against neighbours Coventry City.

It’s a bitterly, bitterly cold afternoon here in the second city.

I’ve got Long Johns and thermals on but I’m not expecting them to make much of a difference. Let’s hope today’s display can help warm us all up!

It was also a treacherous journey down the M6, so fingers crossed all Blackpool fans make it safe and sound.

“It’s another tough game,” manager Lee Bowyer said.

“They’re a good side, they’re well organised, difficult to break down and they try and play at the right times.

“Jerry Yates up top, I like him. I think he’s a good striker. His movement is very good, he can finish and he wants to run in behind.

“Their wide men are tricky, they get good deliveries into the box, they play two strikers which is something I obviously like to do, so it’s going to be tough.

“Whenever teams come up from League One, the other teams underestimate them and I know that from the side I brought up before (Charlton Athletic).

“But they’re a good side. They finished four or five places before whoever just stayed in the league last year, so there’s not much in it.

“They have good players and there’s teams in League One with good players and they score goals. There’s a lot of players playing in League One that should be playing in the Championship.

“But they choose to stay in League One because of the wages they get there.

“They’re a good side, Blackpool. Their manager has done well, he tries to play a certain way and he’s put a good group together with some experience and some youth.”

“Our form away from home is good. It’s not too dissimilar to our home record. We try to be the same team home and away and approach each game the same.

“Our away record has been slightly better, but if you asked me why I wouldn’t be able to give you the answer because our approach is the same. Perhaps it’s how the opposition approach the game being at home.

“We go to Birmingham full of confidence off the back of a good result away from home at Swansea, which is another tough place to go.

“We’ll have to think carefully about what team we pick and the formation for this game.

“They’re a physical team who get the ball quickly and get the ball into the box a lot.

“It’s a team full of men, full of experience but they’ve got some quality in the right areas of the pitch.

“At home, I’m sure they’ll be looking to bounce back from the run of results they’ve had.

“The league table is so tight they’ll be thinking if they win this game they can kickstart and jump back up the table.

“It’s another tough game away from home against a big club.”