This Week's Opposition: Birmingham City

Jake Smith takes a closer look at Portsmouth's final day opponents.

The 46th and final matchday of the Championship season is upon us and it’s the Blues against The Blues at Fratton Park… Birmingham City the opponents…

MANAGER

Birmingham have 41-year-old Chris Davies in charge of first team affairs.

Davies began his coaching career earlier than most after retiring from playing aged just 19 due to an arthritic condition in his foot.

He was named as manager of the club in June 2024 and tasked with getting the team straight back up to the Championship following their relegation to League One.

The former Tottenham Hotspur coach, who was senior assistant to Ange Postecoglou prior to his appointment, did guide The Blues to promotion and did so as champions of the 3rd tier, achieving an EFL record of 111 points.

ONE TO WATCH

This weekend, central midfielder Tomoki Iwata could prove to be a handful.

The Japanese international, who wears the number 24 shirt for the club, is 29-years-of-age and has been an ever-present figure in the spine of the team since his arrival from Celtic in August 2024.

Iwata found the back of the net in Birmingham’s last away match - A 1-1 draw with Hull City on April 18th.

TOP SCORER

With 10 league goals and 1 Carabao Cup strike to his name this season, striker Jay Stansfield is Birmingham’s leading scorer.

The 23-year-old striker, who wears the number 28 shirt, arrived on a permanent basis from Fulham as the club’s record signing in August 2024 after impressing on loan in the previous campaign.

CURRENT FORM

Chris Davies’ side are unbeaten in their last 4 games and were 2-1 victors over Bristol City last time out in their final home game of the season.

The reverse meeting between the 2 sides saw Birmingham run out 4-0 winners at St Andrew’s back in November.

They have, however, collected 44 of their 63 points this season on home turf, boasting the 3rd best home record in the division.

In the away form table, Birmingham are positioned 22nd - Winning 5, drawing 4 and losing 13 of their 22 matches on the road up to this stage.

How will Pompey end their campaign?

Find out by tuning in to Pompey Live on Express FM from 11:30am on Saturday (May 2nd) morning - Jake Smith, David Howes, James Wilson and Danny Thompson will be on hand to provide full coverage of Portsmouth vs Birmingham City at Fratton Park.

Kick-off: 12:30pm!