Wolverhampton Wanderers travel to face Birmingham City in a Championship derby with three key players currently sidelined. The BBC reported the build-up to this fixture, the first league meeting between the sides since the 2017-18 season, as Wolves look to overcome a dismal away record this week.
Gary O’Neil’s side sit ninth in the standings with seven points, one place and one point ahead of their local rivals. They have been potent in attack, scoring 11 goals so far, but defensively they have been vulnerable, particularly on the road. Their last away outing ended in a (4-2) defeat at West Ham, part of a run of just one win in their last 23 league matches away from Molineux.
The squad is depleted ahead of this important fixture. Currently sidelined are experienced defender Kieran Trippier, forward Rafiki Saïd, and centre-back Yerson Mosquera. Their absence will test the depth of the Wolves squad, with the full injuries list showing the extent of the challenge for O’Neil. This comes at a time when goalkeeper José Sá is under scrutiny, having gone nine league starts without a clean sheet.
History heavily favours the visitors in this particular fixture. Wolverhampton Wanderers completed a league double over Birmingham City in their last Championship season together in 2017 18. They have also won their last three league visits to St. Andrew’s and are aiming to win three successive league games against the Blues for the first time since December 1999. However, the current form of Tony Mowbray’s Birmingham side presents a starkly different challenge.
Birmingham City are unbeaten in nine league games, a run comprising four wins and five draws. This is their longest such sequence in the Championship since February 2020. They have been defensively solid, conceding just five goals this season, which contrasts sharply with Wolves’ defensive issues. This resilience makes them a formidable obstacle for any visiting team, especially one with Wolves’ travel sickness.
Statistics from Opta highlight a concerning trend for Wolves’ number one. According to their expected goals on target model, José Sá has conceded 2.1 goals more than expected this Championship season. Only Burnley’s Max Weiß, who has conceded 3.4 more, has a worse record among goalkeepers in the division. This data point shows the defensive problems Wolves have faced, contributing to their position in the table. You can explore more team data on our dedicated stats page.
Wolves will need to find a way to score against a tight defence while shoring up their own, all without several first-team regulars.
