On Sunday afternoon, the FA Cup will see League One champions Birmingham City face off against Championship winners Leeds United at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park. Birmingham enters this match following a West Midlands derby draw against West Bromwich Albion, while Leeds is coming off a notable performance in West London.
Birmingham City is enjoying a resurgence with an impressive eight-game unbeaten streak, including five wins and three draws across both the Championship and the FA Cup. This revitalization follows a tough 3-0 defeat at Watford on New Year’s Day, as hopes for promotion to the Premier League grow. However, the Blues will be slightly disappointed after their recent goalless draw, which kept them just outside the top six in the Championship standings. They sit in 10th place, only one point behind Wrexham, who occupies the final playoff spot. Birmingham boasts a strong home record, remaining unbeaten in their last 11 matches at St Andrew’s.
The Blues secured their position in the fourth round of the FA Cup with a thrilling 3-2 victory over League Two’s Cambridge United, where new signing Kai Wagner made an immediate impact, scoring his first goal since joining from MLS.
Leeds United, despite struggling with consistency in the Premier League this season, demonstrated resilience by earning a point in their recent match against Chelsea. The team has only lost one match in their last six outings across competitions, which has helped them climb to 15th in the Premier League, distancing themselves from the relegation zone.
In terms of FA Cup performances, Leeds found success against Derby County last month, marking one of their few away wins this season in the tournament. Historically, the Whites have had the upper hand in recent meetings against Birmingham, although they suffered a setback at St Andrew’s last year due to a narrow defeat.
In terms of team news, Birmingham is set to see a return for fan-favorite Demarai Gray after overcoming a calf injury, though they will be without Paik Seung-ho due to a shoulder issue, alongside several long-term absentees. Leeds, on the other hand, is uncertain about the availability of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who recently missed out due to illness, and Pascal Struijk is sidelined with a hip injury.
As both teams prepare to battle it out for a place in the next round of the FA Cup, fans can expect an exciting match, with Birmingham’s ability to challenge top-flight opponents at home and Leeds’ attacking prowess likely to intensify the competition. With both clubs searching for momentum, Sunday promises to be an engaging encounter in the prestigious tournament.