Squad sheets: Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers

Home form was key for Birmingham City last season – they will hope to kick off in the same vein this afternoon. It will be a strange day for Matt Derbyshire, who joined Birmingham on loan from Olympiakos earlier this week, and begins life with Blues against his former English club. 'I had a fantastic time at Blackburn, it's a nice club, the club I supported as a boy,' said Derbyshire. 'I know most of the players and they know me, but you've got to put it behind you and concentrate on winning the game for Birmingham.' John Ashdown Venue St Andrew's, Saturday 3pm Tickets £20-40 (0844 557 1875) Last season Birmingham 2 Blackburn 1 Referee M Oliver This season's matches n/a Odds Birmingham 13-10 Blackburn 12-5 Draw 23-10 Birmingham Subs from Doyle, Taylor, Míchel, Fahey, Murphy, Vallès, O'Connor, Derbyshire, Parnaby, O'Shea, Bent, Mutch, Gardner Doubtful None Injured Phillips (thigh, 12 Sep) Suspended None Form guide D Disciplinary record Y3 R0 Leading scorers Dann, Ridgewell 1 Blackburn Subs from Brown, Bunn, Jacobsen, Chimbonda, Emerton, Andrews, Roberts, Doran, Hoilett, MB Diouf, Gunning, Fielding Doubtful Olsson (knee) Injured Dunn (groin, 24 Aug), Grella (calf, 28 Aug) Suspended None Form guide W Disciplinary record Y2 R0 Leading scorer Kalinic 1 Match pointers • The last eight meetings between these sides have all ended in a home win • Birmingham have scored eight goals against Blackburn in their last four league meetings, five of which came from Cameron Jerome • Blackburn have kept a clean sheet in three of their last four Premier League away games • There were fewer goals scored at St Andrew's last season (32) than at any other Premier League ground • Blackburn recorded the lowest pass completion (49%) of any side in the division on the opening weekend