Birmingham City are back on the road in League One today at Charlton Athletic.
Top-of-the-table Blues have won all three of their away matches in the league to date and recorded a 1-0 victory at Charlton in the Carabao Cup in August. Chris Davies’ side will be hoping to extend their winning run to eight matches before the international break.
Charlton, meanwhile, have slipped down the table since a positive start to the campaign. The Addicks have lost their last three matches and now sit 13th in the table.
Alfie May’s return to The Valley adds to the elements of what promises to be an interesting match up. May warned the whole story surrounding his Charlton exit will come out at some stage.
Our Blues reporter Alex Dicken is in position at The Valley to bring you live updates and analysis throughout…
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FT: Charlton 1-0 Blues
A first defeat of the League One season for Blues and it was deserved. A poor performance with no shots on target.
The Blues fans behind the goal are sticking with their team. The final whistle has been followed by a rendition of Keep Right On from the away end who recognise their team is in a good place.
Aneke comes on
The goalscorer Godden has been replaced by Chuks Aneke. Former Blues striker Aneke tends to come off the bench for Charlton and will try to help them see this game out.
Just a few minutes later Blues made their final change with Sampsted coming on for Gardner-Hickman.
Another one bites the dust
Willum Willumsson has been replaced by Dykes. It's rare Willumsson is substituted but he hasn't had much influence today.
Kanu is still causing Blues' defenders grief down the flanks. Davies just did well to stop him in his tracks down the right at the expense of a corner.
Blues are behind
Blues are behind. Godden on the turn in the box after Blues let a long throw bounce.
Poor defending from Blues and no one can say Charlton haven't deserved their lead.
How will Chris Davies respond now?
Blues have made three changes
Chris Davies isn't messing around. Blues have made three changes at half-time. Ben Davies, Scott Wright and Emil Hansson for Bielik, Anderson and May.
Bielik took a knock at the end of that first half to his achilles.
The second half is now underway. Klarer has taken the captain's armband from Bielik.
HT: Charlton 0-0 Blues
Charlton have pressed Blues as well as any team has this season. Blues have had been too casual at times and have had two big let offs.
And another one...
Blimey. Allsop is at it now. Passed it straight to Kanu and atoned for the mistake by diving at the striker's feet.
Blues need half-time to regroup.
Blues off the hook
Blues have had a big let off there. Kanu nipped in to beat Allsop to a short back pass but couldn't convert from the angle after rounding the goalkeeper.
Charlton fans are sensing an upset could be on the cards here. 'Top of the league, you're having a laugh...' they are singing.
Campbell goes close
Campbell has just fired over from distance for Charlton. Iwata gave the ball away cheaply and needs to be more careful in those areas. Allsop might have just about had it covered but it was close.
That's the closest either side has come to a goal in 35 minutes.
An even contest
Charlton are forcing Blues to play long from the back with their press. Allsop has attempted a few Hollywood passes that haven't quite found their mark as a result.
The latest presented Charlton's back-line with a problem but Ramsay nipped in ahead of Anderson and dribbled away from danger. Anderson was booked for a foul on the Charlton full-back.
Better from Blues
A very nicely worked corner saw Paik go short to May and he teed up Cochrane for the first-time strike that was deflected wide. Blues have enjoyed a succession of corners but Charlton have repelled them.
Charlton start well
Blues tend to start slowly in games but Charlton deserve credit for racing out of the blocks. Kanu has just found Godden inside the box and his effort flashed over the bar.
Blues have countered well and Alfie May was clattered on the left wing by Kayne Ramsay. The Charlton right-back picks up a booking.
We've kicked off
The Charlton fans clearly have a soft spot for Blues captain Krystian Bielik after his loan spell here a few years back. Alfie May is going to be public enemy number one today.
Charlton have got us underway at The Valley...
Sampsted could still play key role
Interestingly, Alfons Sampsted warmed up with the starting XI which could suggest that Chris Davies has an important role in mind for him today.
Sampsted was unfortunate not to be included in the starting line-up after his showing off the bench in midweek. He could still have an impact on this game.
Warm ups are underway
Ryan Allsop has just put on a demonstration in passing to begin the goalkeepers' warm up. Maik Taylor is now putting Allsop's handling skills to the test in front of the Jimmy Seed Stand which will house the Blues fans.
Charlton are now out for their pre-match warm up and the stadium announcer has just asked the mascots for score predictions.
As you would expect, they all went for Charlton wins. One of them said 10-0. He clearly hasn't watched Chris Davies' top-of-the-table Blues this season.
Charlton team news
Nathan Jones has made five changes to his Charlton line-up with Kayne Ramsay, Greg Docherty, Allan Campbell, Daniel Kanu and Matty Godden all starting.
(4-4-2): Mannion; Ramsay, A.Mitchell, Jones, Edwards; Coventry, Docherty (c), Anderson, A.Campbell; Kanu, Godden
Subs: Maynard-Brewer, Edmonds-Green, Small, Berry, T.Campbell, Leaburn, Aneke
Blues team news
Chris Davies has named an unchanged XI for Birmingham City’s match at Charlton Athletic today.
The Blues boss has kept faith with the team and bench that started the win over Huddersfield on Tuesday.
Alfons Sampsted has been made to wait for his first start with Taylor Gardner-Hickman again preferred at right-back.
(4-2-3-1): Allsop; Gardner-Hickman, Klarer, Bielik, Cochrane; Iwata, Paik; Willumsson, May, Anderson; Stansfield
Subs: Peacock-Farrell, Davies, Sampsted, Leonard, Wright, Hansson, Dykes
Everyone wants a piece of Stansfield
If ever you needed further evidence that Jay Stansfield is a household name at this level, it just arrived at The Valley. The striker, who will link up with England under-21s for international duty after this game, has just been asked for a photograph by a Charlton fan. Stansfield obliged before making his way down the tunnel.
The same fan clearly wants a picture with Alfie May too. He just mistook him for Scott Wright and shouted 'Alfie' at the Scot when he walked out onto the pitch.
A return to The Valley for Alfie May
Chris Davies isn’t concerned about Alfie May getting caught up in the emotion of his return to Charlton Athletic.
Charlton sold May – who finished as their 27-goal top scorer last season – to Blues in July and the 31-year-old harbours some resentment over the way he was treated.
“Because he went down there previously and played, I think whatever that was – and I don’t know what it was – it’s passed now,” said Davies. “He’s gone down to The Valley, he’s played and this will be the second time, so a lot of that will be out of his thinking now.”
Good afternoon
Hello from The Valley where Blues defend their unbeaten record in League One against Charlton. Blues have won seven games on the trot to open up a gap of five points on second place at the top of the table.
Charlton have lost their last three games, including a 3-2 defeat to Bristol Rovers in midweek, to drop to 13th in the table.
Charlton (a)#BCFC visit The Valley for the second time this season after August’s 1-0 win in the Carabao Cup.
— Alex Dicken (@alexedicken) October 5, 2024
Suspect we will see a similar XI. Sampsted and Hansson are two who could potentially come in. pic.twitter.com/qZAImeBhtD
