FA Cup time comes round again with an intriguing and hard-to-predict third round tie at Birmingham.

Birmingham have hit some good form over the last couple of months. After an uncertain start to the season, with manager Steve Bruce facing a lot of pressure from the media, they’ve put a good run together and soared to the top of the Championship.

I saw a good part of their recent home game against Luton. They looked like a big, strong athletic side – tailor-made to achieve promotion from the Championship, if not particularly well suited for the Premiership. However, I think we will struggle a bit against physical teams and we may have to face a good deal of pressure. The Birmingham fans will be out in force, and usually give their side a lot of support.

On the other hand, the word is from the Brummie press that Steve Bruce is likely to field a weakened side. His priority will be promotion, and he is unlikely to risk any player who isn’t completely fit. Upson may be rested, and Cameron Jerome is struggling for fitness. Forsell has been a long-term injury, and Nafti is suspended.

For Roeder, there is no such selection dilemma, because a weakened side is all he has at his disposal. In addition to the usual absentees, Parker is suspended and Emre is a fitness doubt. Butt is also a doubt, but the picture in his case appears to be a little more optimistic.

Providing our players are up for it, and Butt is able to provide us with that experience, I think we’ll win it. I must confess I have some worries about the FA Cup as a whole, in that we may end up facing an exhausting fixture congestion if we progress in both our cup competitions. Our squad is not exactly in a healthy state at the moment, and we have to hope that our injured players will be back soon to give us a boost in the final half of the season.

Absentees

Parker (suspended), Ameobi, Babayaro, Bernard, Bramble, Carr, Duff, Moore, N’Zogbia, Ramage, Owen.

Doubtful – Emre, Butt.

Predicted Line Up

Given – Edgar, Huntington, Taylor, Solano – Milner, Butt, Dyer, Pattison – Sibierski, Martins.

Prediction

1-0 to the Toon.