Birmingham City will hope to end a run of three successive defeats when they take on Middlesbrough at St. Andrew's this evening.

Pep Clotet's side fell to a disappointing 1-0 loss at Wigan in the week which extended their winless run and it was a poor display from the team who failed to register a shot on target in the game.

Nevertheless, they will fancy their chances against a Boro side who have endured a tough start to the campaign and sit in 20th position going into the clash.

Here we look at the XI Clotet should go with as he looks for a big improvement on Tuesday in what is a winnable fixture.

There have been calls to drop Lee Camp and you can understand why because he made a real howler against Wigan and doesn't always convince but he has had a decent season on the whole, so he deserves another chance tonight.

The return of Marc Roberts is a massive boost for Blues and that should see Clotet revert to his best back four - and one that is reliable and strong defensively.

Unfortunately for the Spaniard, the problems have been going the other way with Blues failing to score for the fourth time this season in the league at the DW Stadium and he just hasn't found the right formula.

Ivan Sunjic is sure to start and is the man who will look to control the tempo, whilst Gary Gardner provides an energy alongside him.

Out wide, Jacques Maghoma coming back to fitness is a positive and he should get the nod and will be a threat with his pace.

Danny Crowley has been operating down the other flank but it's not his best position and going with a 4-2-3-1 will allow him to play centrally. That will enable him to find pockets of space and he can use his undoubted quality on the ball to feed the attackers and give Blues more creativity - something they desperately need.

The former Arsenal man can also drop deep to help Blues dominate possession which they have failed to do on too many occasions this season.

And, that will free up a return to the XI for 16-year-old Jude Bellingham. He warrants an inclusion on merit and he gives the team another goal threat which is crucial.

Whilst Alvaro Gimenez has done okay on occasions, if Clotet goes with one up top then it is a no-brainer, with Lukas Jutkiewicz, Blues' top scorer, starting. He leads the line well and would love to get on the scoresheet against his old club tonight.

 

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