Birmingham City manager Chris Davies has admitted he is unsure what to expect from Bristol City when Michael Skubala’s side visit St Andrew’s today. The Robins have shown two contrasting styles in their opening matches this season, leaving Davies to prepare for multiple possibilities.
Bristol City faced Birmingham twice last season with very different approaches. In April, under interim manager Roy Hodgson, they played an expansive possession game, which Blues won 2-1 thanks to a set-piece goal from Phil Neumann and a pressing display from Jhon Solis. Earlier in the campaign, under Gerhard Struber, they beat Blues 1-0 with a more rigid framework.
Skubala’s early season uncertainty
Michael Skubala, who previously managed Lincoln City in League One, has seen his Bristol City side lose their opening two games of the season in contrasting fashion. They dominated possession against Walsall in the Carabao Cup but lost 1-0, then conceded the majority of the ball to Millwall, despite playing with 10 men, and lost 2-0 last weekend.
Davies, who faced Skubala’s Lincoln three times in League One, noted the differences. “They’ve tried to be quite proactive in the games I’ve seen so far and you’re never quite sure,” he said. “They look a bit different to the Lincoln team that we know. First of all they’re a back four, not a back five. We played them less than six months ago and they were total football – they were really brave and they were taking the ball. They caused us a few tricky situations but we did get on top of them.”
“I think they might be a bit different to that and focus on solidity and counters, but they’ve definitely got players that can hurt you if you give them time. We are going to have to be prepared for anything with this game, that’s my feeling.”
Blues’ strong home record
Birmingham City have started the season well away from home, recording back-to-back clean sheets against Championship opposition. Davies has made tactical tweaks to address their previous away form, but at St Andrew’s, Blues have lost only three home league games in two seasons under his management.
One key decision for Davies is the number 10 role. Paik Seung-ho has started in that position in the opening two matches, providing more solidity and control in midfield. However, Davies has more attacking options, including Jay Stansfield, who was his preferred choice there last season.
Last season, Davies started Stansfield or Marvin Ducksch – both strikers – in the number 10 role in all but two home games. Explaining his thinking, Davies said: “I’m obviously pleased with the start we’ve made and the way we’ve gone about it, and the way the team is performing and feeling. My job is to weigh up horses for courses and the rhythm and confidence of a settled team and just find the solutions. It might be that in games that changes from a third midfielder to more of a striker type in that role.”
“I don’t see us changing system loads like some teams do, for us it might be more of a personnel tweak, so yeah I’m pleased we’ve explored the three midfielder option but we need to make sure we’ve got enough goal threat.”
Preparing for any eventuality
Davies’ comments underline the unpredictability of Bristol City under Skubala, who is still finding his feet with the Robins. Birmingham will need to adapt quickly to whatever approach Bristol City employ, whether it be a possession-based game or a more counter-attacking style.
The match at St Andrew’s will test Blues’ ability to break down a side that has shown different tactical identities in consecutive matches. With Davies weighing up personnel tweaks to maintain goal threat, Birmingham will aim to capitalise on their strong home form and secure a third consecutive clean sheet away from home in the league.
