[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Another Friday, another match. Albion had to come a cropper sooner or later, but our last outing at Stoke was a chastening and well-deserved defeat that took the wind out of everyone's sails, and after a fortnight to dwell on the failure, getting back into the promotion campaign with a local derby is far from ideal.

Not that Birmingham are in the happiest place themselves, winless in five (including three defeats by a three-goal margin) and sliding down to an all-too-familiar end of the table. I have to admit that I haven't followed all of the behind-the-scenes drama at St Andrews in recent years - like any soap, miss one week and you're miles behind - but I gather that recent episodes have seen Carson Yeung sent to prison, Paul Suen getting on the wrong side of the Mitchell brothers, and Lee Bowyer finding out he's carrying Harold Bishop's baby. Nevertheless, the boys in blue almost always up their game against us, and though it's fifteen years almost to the day since their last win in this fixture, they tend to be tough to overcome. 2019 gave us a pair of five-goal thrillers against Blues, and another on Friday would be a treat; but irrespective of the result, both sets of fans will undoubtedly be united in paying tribute to the late and much-mourned Alan Miller before kick-off.

Then next Wednesday takes us back to South Wales, this time guests of Swansea, who've also been labouring at the wrong end of the Championship. From losing the play-off final in May it's been a tough ride, though arch-rivals Cardiff may end up giving them a three-point boost on Sunday going into their encounter with us. Historically real bogey opponents for us, we've performed well against the Jacks in recent seasons, but a draw would still be a good return on a tough ground.

They Played For Both

Solve the anagrams to find former Albion men who've also turned out for Birmingham or Swansea:

1. MALL NAILER (Birmingham)
2. JAN, A KNOTHOLE! (Birmingham)
3. POLAR BUNIONS (Birmingham)
4. HULK'S NIPPLE PRIVIES (Birmingham)
5. WILLIAM LEDGER (Birmingham)
6. NIGGARD RACER (Birmingham)
7. ACID'S VIRTUES (Birmingham)
8. ILL-RHYMING VOLLEY (Birmingham)
9. SNORT BEEF (Birmingham)
10. ERRAND TRACER (Birmingham)
11. NERD REARS UP (Birmingham)
12. FORGO SHEFFIELD (Birmingham)
13. VAR DRUID'S BOW (Birmingham)
14. ITCHY SHREW (Birmingham)
15. ROAR BY LAW (Birmingham)
16. ANGRY RED PYRE (Birmingham)
17. HOLLOWEST IN JIN (Birmingham)
18. BRISKER PHOTON (Birmingham)
19. LEMONY TORY (Birmingham)
20. DODGY TONNE (Birmingham)
21. CELT WINOS (Swansea)
22. SILICON TRACTS (Swansea)
23. HURRY AVID DUBS (Swansea)
24. NORSE IRENE (Swansea)
25. KNOB FUNERAL (Swansea)
26. EL UK ROMEO (Swansea)
27. LOTT IN IGNOMINY (Swansea)
28. TED'S TELLY (Swansea)
29. JOIN OVERS (Swansea)
30. CLASH GREG (Swansea)
31. SANE HIJACK (Swansea)
32. BENNIE'S BORODIN (Swansea)
33. CORK AUTHOR (Swansea)
34. E-BACTERIA GIT (Swansea)
35. AW, MAMA PUKED (Swansea)
36. WAN PLAGUE (Swansea)

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Should probably own up in advance that I've been a bit cheeky with a couple of unanagrammable names this week. 4 is the full affectionate nickname we bestowed on the player; conversely, 8 is the player's entire birth name rather than the one he actually goes by.

[talkSAFT]

1. Alan Miller
3. Paul Robinson
5. Liam Ridgewell
7. Curtis Davies
9. Ben Foster
10. Darren Carter
11. Darren Purse
12. Geoff Horsfield

[Dingle-Dingle]

4 Kevin Mark Phillips
8 Boaz Myhill
14 Chris Whyte.
15 Ray Barlow.
17 Our Willie.
20 Tony Godden.
DD

[Baggievicar]

4 Super Kevin Phillips

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

They Played For Both

Solve the anagrams to find former Albion men who've also turned out for Birmingham or Swansea:

1. Alan Miller (Birmingham)
2. Jonathan Leko (Birmingham)
3. Paul Robinson (Birmingham)
4. Super Kevin Phillips (Birmingham)
5. Liam Ridgewell (Birmingham)
6. Craig Gardner (Birmingham)
7. Curtis Davies (Birmingham)
8. Glyn Oliver Myhill (Birmingham)
9. Ben Foster (Birmingham)
10. Darren Carter (Birmingham)
11. Darren Purse (Birmingham)
12. Geoff Horsfield (Birmingham)
13. David Burrows (Birmingham)
14. Chris Whyte (Birmingham)
15. Ray Barlow (Birmingham)
16. Garry Pendrey (Birmingham)
17. Willie Johnston (Birmingham)
18. Robert Hopkins (Birmingham)
19. Tony Morley (Birmingham)
20. Tony Godden (Birmingham)
21. CELT WINOS (Swansea)
22. SILICON TRACTS (Swansea)
23. David Rushbury (Swansea)
24. Ronnie Rees (Swansea)
25. KNOB FUNERAL (Swansea)
26. EL UK ROMEO (Swansea)
27. LOTT IN IGNOMINY (Swansea)
28. Des Lyttle (Swansea)
29. JOIN OVERS (Swansea)
30. Carl Heggs (Swansea)
31. Jack Haines (Swansea)
32. Robbie Dennison (Swansea)
33. CORK AUTHOR (Swansea)
34. Craig Beattie (Swansea)
35. Kwame Ampadu (Swansea)
36. Paul Agnew (Swansea)

Strong start, as always.

[derbybaggie]

2. Jonathan Leko
6. Craig Gardner
16. Gary Pendrey
18. Robert Hopkins
19. Tony Morley
21. Colin West
22. Scott Sinclair
24. Ronnie Rees
25.Frank Nouble
26. Luke Moore
30. Carl Heggs
31. Jack Haines
32. Robbie Dennison
34. Craig Beattie
35. Keane Ampadu
36. Paul Agnew

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Might just want to revisit 35, first name's a bit off.

[BaggieSteve]

24. Ronnie Rees

[derbybaggie]

Might just want to revisit 35, first name's a bit off.

Bloomin’ auto correct!

Kwame

Tried it 6 times until it would let me get the correct spelling!