Birmingham City boss Aitor Karanka has claimed that Sheffield Wednesday deserve to be in the top half of the Championship ahead of their clash this afternoon.

The Blues will be looking to continue their unbeaten start to the 2020/21 season when they welcome the Owls to St Andrew's and hoping to close the gap on the top six.

Wednesday are bottom of the Championship after starting the campaign with a 12-point deduction but they have picked up five points already this term and Karanka has suggested Garry Monk's men deserve to be in the top half of the table with the Blues.

He said: "It's the kind of game where you can't look at the table. It's not the truth.

"They are a team that should've been at least like we are in the table, they are a team that are going to be very difficult to beat. A coach who knows us perfectly but once again it's about us.

"It's about how we approach the game."

Karanka took charge of the Blues over the summer and has made a strong start to life at St Andrew's, doing some smart business in the transfer window and making Birmingham a much harder side to beat.

In Jeremie Bela and Ivan Sanchez they have two players that are capable of creating something out of nothing and if Scott Hogan can rediscover the form he showed last term they will feel as if they can launch a serious top six challenge.

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The Verdict

It's hard to disagree with Karanka here.

Wednesday performances this season haven't been reflective of where they are in the table and they will arrive in Birmingham feeling they can take three points from this afternoon's game.

That said, it would be a fantastic step forward for the Blues if they can claim their second Championship win of the season against the Owls.