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League One | Gameweek 43
Apr 18, 2025 at 3pm UK
St. Andrew's Stadium
Crawley Town

Birmingham
0 - 0
Crawley


Stansfield (75'), Harris (81')
FT

Barker (23'), Ibrahim (75')

Preview: Birmingham City vs. Crawley Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Friday's League One clash between Birmingham City and Crawley Town, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

With the third-tier title already secured, Birmingham City will welcome relegation-threatened Crawley Town to St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park on Good Friday.

Blues suffered a rare defeat on the weekend as they lost to Peterborough United at Wembley, whilst the Red Devils endured a difficult afternoon on home soil.


Match preview

Chris Davies of Birmingham City and Rotherham United on February 1, 2025© Imago

After a seven-game winning run in League One - one which secured promotion and the title with six games left to play - Birmingham City were shocked at Wembley in the EFL Trophy final in front of 50,000 expectant Bluenoses, losing to an inspired Peterborough.

A stunning free-kick from Harley Mills gave Posh the lead in the first half, and they were soon further ahead courtesy of a clinical strike from Hector Kyprianou, with Blues unable to find a way back into the contest despite their dominance of the ball and the second-half chances.

Sitting 13 points clear of second-placed Wrexham at the very top of League One standings, Chris Davies's troops are assured of the third-tier title with six fixtures left to fulfil, although there is still plenty to play for ahead of Crawley's trip on Friday afternoon.

Three more wins would see Birmingham break the League One points record - set by Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 2013-14 campaign - whilst four more successes would bring Blues to the 107-point mark, surpassing the record-breaking Reading crop of 2005-06.

The hosts should be supremely confident of collecting three points against the Red Devils on Friday, considering that the Second City club are 21 games unbeaten in League One at St Andrew's, only losing to Premier League sides Fulham and Newcastle United at home this season.

Crawley Town boss Scott Lindsey on August 20, 2024© Imago

After finishing seventh in League Two last season and earning promotion via the playoffs, Crawley Town are aiming to avoid an immediate return to the fourth tier, with Friday afternoon's visitors facing an uphill battle to retain their third-tier status between now and the start of May.

A pair of victories at the conclusion of March boosted the Red Devils' hopes of climbing out of the bottom four, but Crawley have since returned to their worrying ways, enduring a three-game losing run ahead of a daunting trip to the runaway champions on Good Friday.

Holding his nerve from 12 yards last weekend, winger Junior Quitirna fired Scott Lindsay's men ahead against Leyton Orient last time out, although an O's comeback was soon on the agenda, with Charlie Kelman bagging a brace, before Jamie Donley added another in extra time.

Losing five of their last seven third-tier matches, Crawley are languishing down in 22nd spot in the League One rankings, six points behind Burton Albion in the relative safety of 20th and six points ahead of bottom side Shrewsbury Town at this stage.

Birmingham City League One form:


Birmingham City form (all competitions):


Crawley Town League One form:


Team News

Birmingham City celebrate a goal in September 2024.© Imago

Birmingham are sweating over the fitness of influential midfielder Paik Seung-ho, who was subbed off during the Wembley defeat because of a calf problem.

With the South Korean potentially absent, Marc Leonard will be expected to be drafted into the middle of the park to partner Tomoki Iwata.

Emil Hansson missed out on appearing in the EFL Trophy final but could return in time to feature against Crawley on Good Friday at St Andrew's.

After a costly error in net during the defeat to Leyton Orient, Luke Hutchinson could be dropped by the Red Devils ahead of a trip to the Second City.

Such a decision from head coach Lindsay would allow a new goalkeeper to take a spot in between the sticks for the match on Good Friday.


Birmingham City possible starting lineup:
Allsop; Laird, Klarer, Davies, Cochrane; Iwata, Leonard; Dowell, Stansfield, Anderson; May

Crawley Town possible starting lineup:
Hutchinson; Mullarkey, Conroy, Barker; Quitirna, Camara, Fraser, Ibrahim, Kelly; Hepburn-Murphy, Doyle



SM words green background

We say: Birmingham City 2-0 Crawley Town

With the league title confirmed, Birmingham are in the business of breaking records until the end of the campaign, with Crawley set to be the latest prey in the Second City.

Blues are unbeaten in the league at their own patch, and we cannot envisage that changing against a Red Devils side fighting relegation.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Written by
Carter White

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Game History

How you voted: Birmingham vs Crawley

Birmingham City
84.0%
Draw
8.0%
Crawley Town
8.0%
25
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Chris Davies of Birmingham City and Rotherham United on February 1, 2025
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Birmingham CityBirmingham42309375304599
2Wrexham442511862342886
3Wycombe WanderersWycombe442412869412884
4Charlton AthleticCharlton4424101064392582
5Stockport CountyStockport442312966392781
6Leyton Orient442261667472072
7Reading4420121264531172
8Bolton WanderersBolton44206186568-366
9Huddersfield TownHuddersfield44197185648864
10Blackpool4316151267561163
11Lincoln CityLincoln4416131562511161
12Barnsley441610186469-558
13Rotherham UnitedRotherham441510195157-655
14Stevenage431510184047-755
15Wigan AthleticWigan431314163739-253
16Exeter CityExeter441411194661-1553
17Peterborough UnitedPeterborough431311196474-1050
18Northampton TownNorthampton441214184762-1550
19Mansfield TownMansfield43139215367-1448
20Burton Albion431013204561-1643
21Bristol Rovers44127254370-2743
22Crawley TownCrawley441010245282-3040
23Cambridge UnitedCambridge44911244369-2638
24Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury4479283876-3830


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