Man City v Birmingham

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Man City v Birmingham

Eastlands
Saturday, 20 October
Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage on the BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on Match of the Day. Featured game on Score and Final Score.



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Team news to follow later.










BIG-MATCH FACTS
Manchester City go into this clash on a three-match winning run in league and cup; Birmingham on a three-match losing streak.

All but four of Manchester City's 19 points have come at Eastlands, where they hold a 100% record.

Birmingham have gained only one Premier League point on Manchester City turf; City are chasing a third successive home league victory over the Brummies.


CLUB FORM
MANCHESTER CITY


Club stats
Fixtures
Highest mathematically achievable after Saturday's matches: 1st
Lowest could fall: 4th

1. Unbeaten in four league matches; won three and drawn one since losing 1-0 at Blackburn on 2 September.

2. Scored twice as many goals as conceded; 14 for, seven against.

3. One of six clubs with a 100% record from Premier League matches in which they opened the scoring (won five of five).

4. Making their best ever start to a Premier League season.

5. Boasting the Premier League's best record when a clean sheet has been kept; won four of four.

6. One of two clubs still holding a 100% home Premier League record. The other is Arsenal.

7. Scored three goals in each of the last two league outings; both at home.

8. Netted in each of the five league matches at the City of Manchester Stadium this season, after failing to score in all of the last eight last season.

9. Already registered as many home league wins as managed in the whole of last season.

10. This fixture precedes a trip to Chelsea.

BIRMINGHAM CITY


Club stats
Fixtures
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 11th
Lowest could fall, realistically: 17th

1. Not won in four in all competitions.

2. In danger of tumbling to their worst run in the Premier League since losing five on the spin between 2 October and 5 November 2005.

3. Failed to score in four of their nine league games this term. Only Derby have fired more such blanks (five).

4. Need a win to take the league points won by Steve Bruce in his managerial career past the 500 mark; standing on 498 at present.

5. Only win in 17 away Premier League games since December 2005 was 1-2 at Derby this season (25 August).

6. The only clean sheets in away Premier League matches since November 2005 were both in the north-west; at Everton and Liverpool.


KEY PLAYER NOTES
MANCHESTER CITY


ELANO has scored three goals in two games.

ELANO, Emile MPENZA and Michael PETROV are Manchester City's joint top scorers with three goals each.

All of ELANO and PETROV's goals were in the league, making them the clubs leading Premier League marksmen.

Javier GARRIDO, Dietmar HAMANN and Micah RICHARDS are the only remaining players to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Manchester City's Premier League matches this season.

If selected:-

Nedum ONUOHA will be making his 50th Premier League appearance - all for Manchester City.

BIRMINGHAM CITY


Cameron JEROME is Birmingham's top scorer and top Premier League marksman, with three goals.

JEROME has netted the quickest goal of this Premier League season, officially timed at 33 seconds; away to Derby on 25 August.

Olivier KAPO, Stephen KELLY and Liam RIDGEWELL have played every minute of every one of Birmingham's Premier League games.

If selected:-

Gary McSHEFFREY will be making his 50th Premier League appearance for Birmingham. Last season's top scorer has not netted since hitting the winner, home to Stoke, on 11 February.

Fabrice MUAMBA will be making his 50th appearance in Brummies' colours.

If on the field from the outset:-

KELLY will be making his 50th start for the St Andrews club.


HEAD TO HEAD
Birmingham have won just once in their last 16 games at Manchester City.

The Brummies' last won on their opponents' territory on 13 April 1998; a 0-1 triumph at the second league level.

The Midlanders' last top flight maximum at Manchester City was 27 years ago, a 0-1 victory on 18 October 1980, when Archie Gemmill got the winner from the penalty spot.

Home and away
League (inc PL): Man City 58 wins, Birmingham 47, Draws 21
Prem: Man City 5 wins, Birmingham 2, Draws 1

at Man City only
League (inc PL): Man 43 wins, Birmingham 9, Draws 11
Prem: Man City 3 wins, Birmingham 0, Draws 1


REFEREE
Mike Dean (Wirral)

Premier League referees' table
Mike Dean's 2007-08 Premier League card count

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Man City 1-0 Birmingham
By John Sinnott




Elano celebrates his fourth league goal
Brazilian Elano guided Man City to a sixth successive home win.

Elano put the hosts ahead in the latter stages of the first half, cleverly slotting home with a left-footed shot.

If Elano provided the attacking threat - the Brazilian also went close with a second-half shot - the home defence had to weather a gritty Blues fightback.

Goalkeeper Joe Hart twice came to his side's rescue, making a one-handed stop to thwart Olivier Kapo as well as a reaction save to deny Fabrice Muamba.


Interview: Birmingham City boss Steve Bruce
Interview: Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson

Watching Manchester City it is hard to imagine this was a club which managed just five home wins last season, testament to the change brought about by Sven-Goran Eriksson's arrival.

Elano, who was one of Eriksson's many summer signings, has lit up the Premiership this season with his eye for a pass and sumptuous ball control, not to mention his goalscoring abilities.

This was his fourth goal in three league games for Eriksson's side, while he had also scored in Brazil's 5-0 midweek World Cup qualifying win over Ecuador.

Showing no sign of jet lag, Elano was quick to establish City's tempo, beautifully flighting the ball into the path of Martin Petrov, who was crowded out by the Birmingham defence.

Just before scoring, Elano went on a mesmerising run that brought him to the fringes of the Birmingham penalty area until his progress was ended by Liam Ridgewell's strong tackle.

If there were furious protests from Birmingham that Muamba was fouled by Michael Johnson in the build-up to the goal, there was no argument about the elegance of Elano's finish.

The Manchester City playmaker was quick to gather Vedran Corluka's pass before guiding the ball into the corner of the net past Maik Taylor's outstretched arm.

606: DEBATE
Scraped the 1-0 by all accounts, what are the thoughts of those lucky enough to see it?

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Midway through the second half Elano came close to scoring a second when his low shot went narrowly wide.

Equally important for the home side was the way they were able to protect their lead.

While Hart, who was impressive for the England Under-21 side in midweek, continued to futher his reputation with those two saves, Corluka got in some crucial blocks.

Prior to the Brazilian's goal, Cameron Jerome proved Birmingham's most potent attacking threat.

The former Cardiff striker might have done better following a free-kick in the City penalty area after Hart had picked up a back pass, but Jerome's effort was deflected to safety.

Soon after the break Birmingham boss Steve Bruce brought on Daniel de Ridder for Gary McSheffrey to try and reinvigorate his attack and the Dutchman began to trouble Javier Garrido.

While De Ridder probed City's left flank, on the other side of the pitch Wilson Palacios and Kapo combined to set up Muamba, whose shot was superbly saved by Hart.

But City have conceded just two goals at home this season and Eriksson's side held on to secure a fourth clean sheet at Eastlands.