Birmingham City chairman Tom Wagner, former CEO Garry Cook and co-owner Tom Brady celebrate the win over Leeds United in August 2023(Image: PA)
Leeds United resume their FA Cup campaign against Birmingham City on Sunday, a match that on paper resembles the challenge posed by Derby County in the previous round.
The Whites went away to Pride Park and after a difficult first half put their foot on the gas in the second to record a 3-1 win. Derby and Birmingham are one point and one place apart in the top half of the Championship.
Obviously priorities A, B, C through Y are all about maintaining the club’s Premier League status but a nice cup run could help build momentum and confidence and Daniel Farke will want his team to be in the hat for the fifth round draw.
This is United’s first visit to to St Andrew’s since August 2023 in what was the first match since Tom Wagner and Tom Brady completed their takeover of Birmingham. United lost to an injury time goal that day.
LeedsLive spoke to Reach Football Correspondent and Keep Right On podcast host Brian Dick for the lowdown on Blues.
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BD: It’s moving in the right direction. Blues started well with many of the players who featured last season but as the new arrivals started to be introduced they lost their way a bit. Decent at home, their away performances were poor.
Things bottomed out after a few home truths following a 3-0 defeat at Watford on New Year’s Day and that, combined with some new signings has seen them put together a run of eight unbeaten.
They missed the chance to move into the top six for the first time this season when they drew 0-0 against West Brom the other night, but are organised and committed, if not spectacular.
BD: I don’t think it’ll be full strength but it’ll be strong in Championship terms. Blues spent around £15million in the winter transfer window and they have decent depth.
The one selection to compare it to was last season’s FA Cup fourth round tie with Newcastle, Davies rotated at goalkeeper, put out a first choice defence and made a couple of changes in midfield and attack. I’d expect a similar approach with maybe a start for £6m signing Carlos Vicente who has joined from Alaves and has scored against Real and Atletico Madrid this season.
Poster boy Jay Stansfield, who joined for £15m in League One, will probably start too.
BD: At St Andrew’s – and that’s not supposed to be facetious. Birmingham’s home record is superb. They went through the whole League One campaign without losing at home and they’ve only been defeated once in the Championship. That’s one loss – to Hull City in October – in 41 home league matches.
The stadium is pretty much always full, there’s a bond between the team and fans and a packed house will be right up for this game. It’ll be hostile for Leeds.
It’ll be an especially motivated atmosphere too, because it was revealed on Wednesday that chairman Tom Wagner has suffered a mild stroke and is stepping back from his duties at Blues for a while. The American is rightly loved and the whole club is planning a show of support.
Blues fans are also enthused by the new fourth kit, a ‘penguin’ style throwback to the 1970s, that will be unveiled.
On the pitch, Brighton loanee Ibrahim Osman has made a real impact on the left wing. No. 10 Marvin Ducksch is capable of moments of magic – amid 60 moments of anonymity. Demarai Gray is fit again and is probably the one player in the squad with proven Premier League pedigree.
BD: They still don’t convince defensively. Blues spent three windows trying to lure Phil Neumann from Hannover 96 and it’s been a testing transition. He’s not bad – and he is improving – but the centre back doesn’t seem to relish the physical side of the game.
Chris Davies has them trying to play out from the goalkeeper, if Leeds press well they can force turnovers in very dangerous positions.
Offensively, they are prone to possession for possession’s sake and can go a bit passive, sideways and backwards.
BD: It all depends on the team Daniel Farke puts out. If he goes with a similar one to the one which won at Pride Park, a mix of first team and fringe players, I think it could be quite close.
I’ve been impressed by Leeds – and Farke’s management – but I can’t go for anything other than a home win. Blues 2 Leeds 1.
