BIRMINGHAM CITY (away) 12.01.2010

Birmingham and Forest lock horns once again with the winners to face Premiership side Everton at Goodison Park in the 4th Round. Both teams have continued their exceptional form since the sides faught out a goalless City Ground draw. The Blues drew with Champions Manchester United, after leading, whilst Nottingham Forest sent shockwaves through the rest of the Championship with an quite incredible display at the Hawthorns, demolishing West Brom, a side tipped by many to win the League, 3-1.

Team news; Blues - Unbeaten in 13 league and cup games, Alex McLeish has named an unchanged side for 9 consecutive Premier League games. However, McLeish is likely to give 1 or 2 fringe players a rare opportunity to make a start, as he did for the original tie. 36-year-old Kevin Phillips has made just a single league start this season, but after having the Blues' best 2 chances at The City Ground, could again start. Spanish midfielder Michel has just signed for the club from Sporting Gijon for a reported £3million, however he is not able to figure in the match.

Forest - Robert Earnshaw picked up a late injury during the warm up at West Brom and is out. Guy Moussi made a suprise comeback and put in a terrific performance in the same game, however, having just come back from a lay-off, is not expected to retain his place. James Perch appears to have played his way into the managers reckoning and with Nicky Shorey unavailable could play a part once more. Forest will be hoping that they did not miss their chance after missing several golden oportunities in the stalemate between the sides in Nottingham.

09/10 brief stats: league only: games - B'ham 21; Forest 25;

pos/pts: Blues 8th/33pts;Forest 2nd/46pts

Goals/top scorer: Blues 21/Bowyer & Jerome 5; Forest 37/Blackstock & Earnshaw 7

Assists: Blues Benitez & Larsson 3; Forest Majewski 5

Clean sheets/failed to score: Blues 9/5; Forest 10/5

Yellow cards/red cards: Blues 37/1; Forest 39/2

Average att/highest att: Blues 24,689/28,958 ;Forest 23,654/29,155

Head-to-head: FA Cup games 8; Birmingham wins 2, Forest 2, Draws 4.Forest have played at St Andrews 3 times in FA Cup history, drawing 2 and winning 1 (1-0 in 1988).

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire). 09/10; games 18, Yellows 69. Red cards 3. In his last 2 games (Stockport 2-4 Leeds & Chelsea 5-0 Watford [FA cup]) Friend has dished out a whopping 14 yellow cards and 1 red card. Also on 01/01/2007 he dismissed 2 Forest players at Oldham as the Reds crashed 0-5. 

PL's punt... Another tough game for forest, but they will once agin rise to the challenge. I see this going all the way with penalties seperating the sides. The Reds to go through 4-2 in a shoot-out after a goalless 120 minutes. Thats precise punting!