Preview: Birmingham City vs. Peterborough United - prediction, team news, lineups

Birmingham City will be looking to make it back-to-back wins in the Championship when they continue their 2021-22 campaign at home to Peterborough United on Tuesday.

The home side will enter the contest off the back of a 2-1 victory over Barnsley on Saturday, while Peterborough suffered a 3-0 defeat away to West Bromwich Albion on the same afternoon.

Match preview

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Birmingham ended a six-game winless run in the Championship on Saturday afternoon when they managed to overcome Barnsley, running out 2-1 winners in front of their own supporters at St Andrew's.

Onel Hernandez and Scott Hogan did the damage for the Blues, with Victor Adeboyejo's late effort proving to be just a consolation for Barnsley, and the result moved Lee Bowyer's side 11 points clear of the bottom three.

Birmingham are actually only five points behind 11th-placed Sheffield United, but they have played 27 league matches this season, with a number of sides ahead of them having games in hand.

The Blues have won eight, drawn seven and lost 12 of their 27 Championship fixtures this season to collect 31 points, and they will now end the month with back-to-back league games against Peterborough and Derby County.

Birmingham suffered a 3-0 defeat when they travelled to Peterborough for the reverse match earlier this season, but this match will be the first time that they have locked horns at St Andrew's since September 2012, with the home side running out 1-0 winners on that occasion.

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Peterborough, meanwhile, will enter the contest off the back of a 3-0 defeat at West Brom on Saturday, which made it three straight losses in the second tier of English football.

Darren Ferguson's side have not been victorious since overcoming Millwall on December 11, losing 3-1 at Blackpool and 4-1 at home to Coventry City ahead of the three-goal reverse at the Hawthorns last time out.

Peterborough, who finished second in League One last season, have only picked up 19 points from their 25 league matches this term, which has left them in 22nd position in the table.

The Posh are only three points behind 21st-placed Reading, though, and have two games in hand on the Royals, so the away side still have plenty of matches and indeed time to escape the bottom three.

Ferguson's team have struggled on their travels this season, though, winning one and losing 12 of their 13 away matches, while Birmingham have picked up 18 points from their 13 home fixtures this term.

Team News

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Birmingham boss Bowyer handed starts to Jordan James and Hogan against Barnsley on Saturday, and the pair could retain their spots in the first XI for Tuesday's fixture with Peterborough.

As a result, Ivan Sunjic and Jeremie Bela may feature among the substitutes once again, with Hernandez also set to start following his goal last time out.

Head coach Bowyer is again expected to select a 4-3-3 formation, and Jordan Graham will be hoping to play some part, having returned to the matchday squad last time out.

As for Peterborough, Jack Marriott returned from a hamstring injury to feature as a substitute against West Brom, but the forward is unlikely to be considered for a start yet.

Dan Butler has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee problem, while Idris Kanu (international duty) remains a doubt for this match, but Callum Morton is available for selection once again.

Head coach Ferguson is expected to resist the temptation to make wholesale changes from the defeat at West Brom, but Samuel Szmodics could come in for a start in an attacking area.

Birmingham City possible starting lineup:
Etheridge; Colin, Mengi, Roberts, Pedersen; Gardner, Woods, James; Hernandez, Hogan, Jutkiewicz

Peterborough United possible starting lineup:
Benda; Kent, Edwards, Beevers; Mumba, Taylor, Norburn, Burrows; Clarke-Harris, Szmodics, Dembele

We say: Birmingham City 1-0 Peterborough United

Birmingham will view this match as the ideal chance to make it back-to-back wins in the Championship, and we are expecting the home side to triumph here. Peterborough have found it difficult on their travels this term, and we are backing Bowyer's side to record a 1-0 victory at St Andrew's.

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