Birmingham City travel to Elland Road to face Leeds United on Saturday, with the Blues looking to build on the 2-1 win they secured against Middlesbrough at St Andrew's last time out.

Leeds have been one of the most consistent teams in the Championship over the last few years, and Marcelo Bielsa's side have made a strong start to the season sitting in fifth place in the table, despite losing 2-1 at Millwall last time out - and the Whites will be aiming to get back to winning ways on Saturday.

However, despite Leeds' form over the last few years, Birmingham have enjoyed an excellent recent record against them, with the Blues winning all of the last three meetings in the Championship, including doing the double over Bielsa's side last season winning 2-1 at Elland Road and 1-0 at St Andrews.

Pep Clotet's side will be hoping to continue that recent good form against Saturday's opponents, with the Blues targeting their third win away from home in the Championship so far this season.

Here, we take a look at three reasons why Birmingham can be confident of maintaining their strong recent record against Leeds on Saturday...

Leeds' tendency to be wasteful in front of goal

So far this season, Leeds have like last campaign enjoyed the majority of possession against their opponents, with Bielsa's side looking to build play through the thirds and push opposing teams back towards their own penalty areas - and that often sees the Whites manage to create a number of good goal scoring opportunities.

However, Leeds' attacking players are often guilty of failing to convert clear chances on goal, which allows their opponents the opportunity to hit them on the counter-attack and manage to find a way to pick up vital points against them.

That could play into Birmingham's hands, with Clotet often setting up his side to defend deep in a low block away from home, which will likely be the game plan at Elland Road on Saturday - and the Blues have been improving in their defending away from home and finding the ability to absorb pressure without giving away too many chances, so if Leeds are wasteful then they could struggle to find a breakthrough.

Birmingham's ability to grind out wins

Last season when the Blues won at Elland Road, it was a victory that was very much ground out with two first half goals on the counter from Che Adams enough to secure the three points, despite Leeds averaging 78% possession and firing in 17 attempts to Birmingham's four.

That is something that Clotet's side have already shown they are capable of doing again this season, with the Blues' opening day win at Brentford following a very similar pattern, with a header from Kristian Pedersen enough to secure a win, despite their hosts managing 15 shots to Birmingham's solitary effort and averaging 76% possession.

Clotet's side then will be confident that they will be able to absorb pressure from Leeds, in the knowledge that they are likely to get a couple of chances on the break to nick the points - and given the Whites' struggle to convert chances at times they could well grind out another victory on Saturday.

Leeds' injury problems in defence

Leeds started the season very strong defensively, with Brighton loanee Ben White slotting in alongside Liam Cooper and forming a real solid partnership at the heart of their defence, which saw the Whites concede just five goals in their opening ten Championship matches.

However, Cooper picked up a groin injury in a 1-0 win at home to West Bromwich Albion which has ruled him out for the next few weeks - and in his absence last time out against Millwall his replacement Gaetano Berardi was shown a red card, which has since been overturned, as the Whites shipped two goals and fell to a defeat.

Without Cooper alongside White, Leeds looked far more vulnerable in defence, which is something that Birmingham will be needing to exploit by putting the Whites' back four under pressure when they have possession - and if the Blues can get the right service into the penalty area they could manage to unsettle their opponent's defence.