Manager not underestimating out of form Birmingham
Mark Robins is relishing Saturday’s game, but is wary of Birmingham despite their current league position.
The Blues are struggling in the Sky Bet Championship and are just two points off the bottom, having not won since early October.
“It is a great game to look forward to and another home game where we have been doing particularly well,” said Mark.
“Birmingham are a very capable side, which they have proven this season. They will come here feeling a little bit under pressure because they dropped into the bottom three, but at the same time they have got some good players who can turn things around for them.”
Birmingham Manager Lee Clark will return to Town for the second time since his departure last year, having seen his side record a 1-1 draw in Huddersfield last season.
“He is a decent guy and I am sure that he will get a good reception,” Mark said. “He enjoyed a decent time here and was unfortunate to not get the team promoted, which was done in the end by Simon (Grayson). He bought some good talent to the Club and that can’t go unrecognised; he should have a good place in the Club's history books.”
Following last Saturday’s defeat at Wigan, Town sit 14th in the Sky Bet Championship, but know a win could move them to within a couple of places of the Play-Offs.
“We would have liked a few more points, but if you go back and look at the games where we have dropped points, the majority are against teams in the top half of the division. It is something that we have to rectify; it is almost a mental block where we have done well, but come up short.
“We have come a long way, though, and they players have improved and are trying to pass the ball and play attractive football,” Mark said.
Joel Lynch and Martin Paterson were both scheduled in for surgery this week and Mark updated htafc.com on their recovery.
“Joel will train again today and has come through the surgery fine; I am expecting him to be fit. Martin had an operation on his hand and will wear a cast in training, but he isn’t fit enough to be included in Saturday’s squad. Next week he will be able to do some training and should be fit to play for Northern Ireland.”
Jonathan Hogg was also a doubt following his injury picked up against Wigan, but Robins expects him to feature on Saturday.
“He will train again today and it was only kick that he got last week, although he has also been ill during the week. Everybody feared the worst, but he will hopefully be fine for Saturday.”