Mitrovic and free-scoring Fulham play host to a Birmingham side stuck in malaise

Fulham will be desperate to continue their perfect start to 2022 and extend their lead at the top of the Championship table when Birmingham City visit Craven Cottage on Tuesday evening.

It is fair to say Marco Silva’s side have been in phenomenal form in front of goal recently. First sweeping aside Reading 7-0, followed by a devastating 6-2 victory over Bristol City to start the year with a bang.

Serbian goal machine Aleksandar Mitrovic, netted a brace against the Royals and then scored a hat-trick the following game. Fulham’s number 9 now has 27 goals in 24 league appearances this campaign, including seven assists.

The hosts have won the previous four encounters with Birmingham, two of which have come this season in the league and EFL Cup. Fulham have scored eight times and conceded just once during these meetings.

It was a difficult day for Birmingham City fans in the reverse fixture this season, as they watched their team fall to a heavy 4-1 defeat at the St Andrews’ Stadium. Troy Deeney netted a late penalty for the Blues but on the day, they were simply second best.

City have just one victory to their name in their last 10 outings. That win coming back in November against Blackpool, a Lucas Jutkiewicz strike was the difference between the sides.

Manager Lee Bowyer, meanwhile, has already dipped into the loan market this month, with the acquisitions of Taylor Richards, Teden Mengi and Onel Hernandez from Premier League clubs.

Interestingly, heading into the fixtures, Birmingham are heavily linked with Fulham defender Alfie Mawson. The 27-year-old, who joined the club back in the summer of 2018 from Swansea for a fee in the region of £20 million, has made just eight appearances this season.

Fulham manager Silva looks likely to field the same team that ran riot against Bristol City, barring any last minute knocks or positive Covid-19 cases.

While Birmingham have no new injury concerns, they will have defender George Friend back available following his suspension.

After this game, Bowyer’s side have important fixtures against those below them. With Barnsley, Peterborough and Derby to round off January fixtures.

Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt