Filed under: Birmingham, Championship, Europa League (UEFA), Football, Match Previews
EUROPA LEAGUE PLAY-OFF: ESTADIO DA MADEIRA, THURSDAY AUGUST 18, 2011. KICK-OFF 1945 BSTFinally, Birmingham fans have something to cheer about as the crisis club prepares to play in Europe for the first time in half a century.
Whether it be relegation, the departures of big-name players and Alex McLeish or owner Carson Yeung's court concerns, there has been nothing but bad news for the Blues faithful since their Carling Cup victory six months ago.
This week is different, however, as with that triumph comes the chance to be involved in continental competition 50 years on from their participation in the 1961-62 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
Standing between them and a place in the Europa League group stages are CD Nacional, a Madeira-based team who finished sixth in the Portuguese league last season.
It looks a tough task with Chris Hughton facing a difficult juggling act with his threadbare squad's priority gaining promotion back to the Premier League.
However, the manager has dismissed suggestions the European competition is an unwelcome distraction from the Championship and he has indicated he plans to name a strong team with just a sprinkling of changes for the first leg out in the Portuguese archipelago that sits 300 miles of the African coast.
Key Match-up: Curtis Davies v Matthew:
Davies has made a strong start to the season as he attempts to get his career back on track following a frustrating couple of years spent on the sidelines. Finally, the former Aston Villa player is a first pick again but his pace and reading of the game will be tested by Matthew. The 27-year-old Angolan has started the campaign in fine form with two goals from his first five matches and his movement and trickery could cause Davies problems.
Form Guide: Birmingham recovered from an opening-day defeat to Derby by beating Coventry last weekend, while Nacional kicked off their league campaign with a goalless draw at CD Feirense.
Odds: CD Nacional 20/19, Birmingham 7/2, Draw 5/2
BIRMINGHAM:
Blues manager Chris Hughton plans to make changes for the clash but is adamant he will treat the competition with respect and name a strong team.
Hughton has hinted Scott Dann could be handed his first start, while Nathan Redmond, David Murphy and Jonathan Spector are all likely to be drafted in.
"It is an honour and privilege, yes," said Hughton. "It is exciting. Irrespective of anything that is said about the Europa League - in some quarters there has tended to be negativity towards it - it is European competition, it opens up another audience to the club, and the coverage is different.
"And it's a nice opportunity for us and our players to play in something new, against different players, a whole new experience.
"Certainly, when you go into these games they're like any other in that you want to win. Over the two legs we want to come through and get into the group stages. We want to make progress in it.
"The player will always have that competitive edge. Once they are out there, they know they're in a game and will be doing all they can to win."
Strategy: Hughton will be eager to keep things tight with the first leg being away from home, so expect the Blues manager to opt for just the one forward up front and a five-man midfield. Striker Adam Rooney is likely to be rewarded with a recall to the starting XI following his impressive cameo against Coventry in which he came off the bench to set up the winner.
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