Birmingham City manager Chris Davies is poised to make significant alterations to his starting eleven for the Boxing Day encounter with Derby County at St. Andrew's.
The Blues' boss is under increasing scrutiny following a demoralising 3-0 defeat to Sheffield United last time out, a result that has intensified the focus on his long-term future at the club.
Davies addresses pressure ahead of festive fixtures
Speaking to BBC Sport ahead of the match, Davies acknowledged the challenging period but framed the upcoming festive schedule as a key opportunity. "No external presence could put any more pressure on me than I feel before every game and every decision," Davies stated.
He added, "We have had a little bit of a sticky patch. I've been here 18 and a half months, and there's only one other spell that I can think of that you can class as a sticky patch."
The fixture holds added intrigue as it pits Davies against former Blues manager John Eustace, now in charge of Derby. Birmingham's form has been starkly contrasting home and away; they have lost just one league match at St. Andrew's during Davies' tenure, a record stretching back to last season.
Predicted Birmingham City line-up and key changes
With the need for a reaction, Davies is expected to implement up to four changes from the side beaten by Sheffield United.
In goal, Ryan Allsop is set for a third consecutive start since extending his contract in November, continuing in place of the injured James Beadle.
The defence could see one alteration, with Eiran Cashin potentially replacing Jack Robinson at left-back. The summer signing has seen limited action, making just seven appearances so far. The rest of the back line is predicted to remain stable, with Tomoki Iwata at right-back and the centre-back pairing of Christoph Klarer and Phil Neumann.
Midfield is forced into one change due to Tommy Doyle's suspension following his red card against his former club. Marc Leonard is in line for his fifth league start of the campaign alongside the ever-present Paik Seung-ho, who has scored four goals this term.
Attack reshuffle offers Furuhashi opportunity
The most notable tactical shift could come in attack, where Kyogo Furuhashi is tipped to start. The former Celtic striker, who has yet to hit top form since his move, has reportedly been left 'frustrated' by his start to life in the West Midlands.
This change would see him lead the line ahead of Marvin Ducksch. He will be supported by the creative talents of Jay Stansfield in an advanced role, with Patrick Roberts and Demari Gray providing width.
This crucial period sees Birmingham host Derby on 26th December before welcoming Southampton three days later. A positive return from these home games is viewed as essential to stabilising their season and easing the pressure on Davies.
