PREVIEW: Birmingham City v Luton Town

A truly alarming run of form, particularly at home, has seen Birmingham City slip into yet another relegation battle again this season.

The Blues finished 20th last term, as they kept their heads above water in the Championship just about, eventually ending up two points clear of the drop zone, after an awful spell, not winning any of their last 14 games, with seven draws and seven defeats.

City's board then opted to bring in former Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest boss Aitor Karanka after Pep Clotet left the club, and things looked to be going well in the current campaign, as Blues' opening nine games saw them win three and draw four with just two defeats, to sit fairly comfortably in 11th place.

However, a 2-1 defeat at home to Wycombe in November saw Birmingham on a six match winless run, which included a 1-1 draw at Luton that but for keeper Neil Etheridge, they would have certainly lost.

December looked to bring about about a change of fortunes as they won back-to-back away games at Bristol City and Reading, staying nine points clear of the drop, but once again their home form failed them, going down to Watford.

That was the beginning of a run of five defeats from six in the league, knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester City too, before hopes were raised as Blues won 1-0 at Middlesbrough on January 16.

It was another false dawn though, Birmingham going down at home to Preston and drawing with Coventry and Wycombe before last weekend's 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth, which dropped them into the bottom three.

It's at home where Karanka's men have really suffered too, without a home victory since October 28, when they beat Huddersfield.

Since then they have lost eight from 10, taking a mere two points from 30, shipping four to both Middlesbrough and Derby as well.

Unsurprisingly, Blues have the leakiest back-line in the division too, shipping 23 at home in 14 games, only managing to keep two clean sheets at St Andrew's all term.

City's woes on home soil have carried on from last term, as they ended the season with no win in their last eight matches, with four wins and four draws.

Karanka is determined not to panic though, as on being in the relegation zone, he told the Birmingham Mail: “I don’t think it’s a worry for any.

"For the players we know we didn’t want to be in this situation but I said at the beginning of the season this season was going to be more than ever a battle.

“Trust in the players, trust in the work that we are doing, again if we are working as hard as we are working and if we are playing as good as we are playing, now it’s just to reflect those performances on the table.

“It’s a time to manage the situation, it’s true that we are in that position because we deserve to be in that position but we are playing better than to be in that position.

“For me it’s not time for panic at all, but it’s true we have to realise we are not in a comfortable position.

“We have to keep trying our best and for sure playing in that way we will win games.”

Deadline day saw Blues try and improve their attacking qualities, with Aberdeen striker Sam Cosgrove signing, with Manchester City youngster Keyendrah Simmons also on board.

They did move to bolster their defence too though with the loan signing of Yan Valery from Southampton.

During the transfer window, Karanka also brought in West Bromwich Albion midfielder Rekeem Harper on loan, while he allowed Dutchman Maikel Kieftenbeld to join Millwall and Hull City to borrow Dan Crowley.

Striker Jayden Reid was also sent out to get first team football at Walsall, with midfielder David Davis released after spending over six years with the club.

Off the pitch, Karanka looked to strengthen as well, reappointing Craig Gardner to their coaching staff, less that two months after he left the club for Sheffield Wednesday.

Team news: Luton are likely to be without defender James Bree once more as he recovers from injury.

However, the rest of the squad should be fit, although Brendan Galloway won't feature having been left out of the club's final 25-man Championship squad.

For Blues, Alen Halilovic remains a doubt, while Marc Roberts is definitely out, serving the second game of his three match suspension.

Top scorers: Hatters: James Collins (10). Blues: Scott Hogan (5).

Man in the middle: Gavin Ward - has taken 18 games so far this season, showing 46 yellow cards and three reds, while it will be his third Luton match so far, having taken the 2-1 win over Bristol City and 1-1 draw with Blackburn.

Last term he had five Town games, with the Hatters beating Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn Rovers, drawing at Wigan Athletic, and losing to Nottingham Forest and Preston.

The vastly experienced official has taken Luton a further 16 times in his 14-year career, with six wins, three draws and seven defeats, including the 8-2 triumph over Yeovil Town and 5-0 victory at Swindon Town.

Assistant referees are Paul Hodskinson and Mark Jones, fourth official Tom Reeves.

In charge: Aitor Karanka – had a lengthy playing career in his home country of Spain, featuring for both Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid, winning six honours with the latter, before a spell with MLS club Colorado Rapids.

Won one full senior cap, as his first role in management came with the Spanish U16s, before being appointed assistant boss to Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid in June 2010.

Left three years later following the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti, named Middlesbrough manager in November 2013, losing the 2014-15 play-off final to Norwich City.

Led Boro back to the top flight the following season though, but was sacked in March 2017.

Was back in the game in January 2018, becoming Nottingham Forest manager, until a poor run of form saw Karanka leave the club in January 2019.

Was out of the game for 18 months, returning to take over at Birmingham on a three year deal in July 2020.

View from the opposition: Boss Aitor Karanka talking to Birmingham Live: “It it is a reflection of the league, now everybody can be depressive because we are in a relegation position, Luton is mid-table and if we beat them on Saturday we will be three points behind them.

“It is just one game, we have to approach the game thinking that winning that game will bring us a lot of confidence for the following games and knowing that we are in a position where we are not comfortable.”

One to watch: Scott Hogan - 28-year-old striker who started his career at Rochdale, as he then went to Halifax, Hyde and back to Rochdale, where he really showed his striking credentials, with 19 goals in 40 games.

That earned a £750,000 move to Brentford where he was in superb form, scoring 21 goals in 33 league games as Aston Villa parted with a hefty £9m for his service in January 2017.

It didn't quite work out for the forward at Villa Park, with 10 strikes in 61 games, as he had loan moves to Sheffield United and Stoke City, signed by Luton boss Nathan Jones, before heading to Birmingham in January 2020 for a temporary stay.

A fruitful spell at St Andrews led to seven goals in 18 games and he made the move permanent in the summer.

Took six games to get off the mark this term, going over a month without a goal recently until getting the winner at Middlesbrough, while a brace in the 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth propelled him up to five for the season.

Friendly faces: Town midfielder Andrew Shinnie had five years with Birmingham after signing from Inverness Caledonian Thistle in July 2013.

Featured 73 times for the Blues, scoring six goals but had loan spells at Rotherham, Hibernian and also Luton during his time at St Andrews.

Joined the Hatters permanently in July 2018 and has made 106 appearances, with 10 strikes, but is now on loan at Charlton Athletic.

Town head of recruitment and assistant boss Mick Harford was signed by Birmingham from Bristol City in March 1982 for £100,000.

Scored 25 times in 92 games for the Blues, as Luton then snapped him up for £250,000 in 1984.

Became a huge crowd favourite over his two spells at Kenilworth Road, finding the net 92 times in 217 appearances, part of the Town team that won the League Cup in 1988 before cementing that legend status, leading the club to the League One as caretaker manager title in 2019.

First team coach Paul Hart played once for the Blues after joining in 1986, breaking his leg on debut, as he then moved to Notts County a year later.

Town goalkeeper coach Kevin Dearden had a loan spell at Birmingham in March 1992, playing 12 times after signing from Spurs.

Played for both: Olly Lee - After coming through the ranks at West Ham United, the midfielder had loan spells at Dagenham & Redbridge and Gillingham, before leaving Upton Park without a first team appearance, joining Barnet in 2012.

Loaned to Birmingham City in 2013 and signed permanently later in the year, going on to play 20 times for the Blues, scoring twice.

Had two spells at Plymouth during his time at St Andrew's, and after being released by the Blues, Lee joined Luton in August 2015.

Went on to make 123 appearances for the Hatters, scoring 11 goals, including a quite brilliant effort from inside his own half against Cambridge United.

Left at the end of the 2017-18 season, moving north of the border to Hearts.

Featured in 58 games for the Jam Tarts, scoring nine times, while was loaned to Gillingham for the 2019-20 season and is now back at Priestfield, with two goals in five games so far.

We've got form: St Andrews continues to be a miserable venue for the Hatters since they first visited the stadium back in April 1947 for a Division Two contest that finished 1-0 to the hosts.

That started a 11-year year wait for first victory, John Groves getting the only goal to settle a Division One encounter in August 1958.

Town then improved slightly, only losing three of their next 11 visits, including a marvellous 4-1 win in April 1975, Adrian Alston (2), Jim Ryan and Jimmy Husband quietening a crowd of 30,000.

Mick Harford bagged a double as Luton won 2-0 in April 1986, but Town have not triumphed since that day almost 35 years ago, with three defeats and three draws.

Overall, from the 27 clashes, the Hatters have won just four, drawing nine and losing 14, scoring 28 times and conceding 46.

Last time out: Luton suffered a late defeat at Birmingham last season, having looked worthy of a point.

The hosts took the lead on the stroke of half time through Kristian Pedersen, before Harry Cornick came off the bench on 66 minutes to level shortly afterwards.

However, Lukas Jutkiewicz, who else, rose highest to head home with eight minutes to go, despite Town appealing for a foul on defender Matty Pearson.

Hatters: James Shea, Martin Cranie, Dan Potts, Sonny Bradley, Matty Pearson, Ryan Tunnicliffe (Harry Cornick 66), Callum McManaman (James Collins 60), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Luke Bolton (Jacob Butterfield 87), Izzy Brown, Kazenga LuaLua.

Subs not used: Simon Sluga, James Bree, Andrew Shinnie, Lloyd Jones.

Referee: Dean Whitestone.

Attendance: 21,799.