Squad sheets: Birmingham City v Chelsea

Chelsea may be off the top by the time they take the field at St Andrew's today. Either way Birmingham will approach them as warily as a hunter stalks a wounded prey. Beaten twice in three games and with their team ravaged by injuries, especially at the back, Carlo Ancelotti's side have the chance to show what champions are made of. Birmingham also have problems, with Lee Bowyer standing by to replace Craig Gardner, who has an ankle injury. Alex McLeish badly needs a win but would take a repeat of last season's 0-0 draw. David Lacey Venue St Andrew's, Saturday 3pm Tickets £30-50 (0844 557 1875) Last season Birmingham City 0 Chelsea 0 Referee M Halsey This season's matches 7 Y 20, R 1, 3.00 cards per game Odds Birmingham 9-2 Chelsea 8-11 Draw 11-4 Birmingham Subs from Doyle, Taylor, Hleb, Murphy, Derbyshire, Jiranek, Parnaby, Phillips, Vallès, Beausejour, Gardner, Míchel Doubtful Gardner (ankle), Jiranek (thigh), Murphy (hamstring), Taylor (shoulder) Injured McFadden (knee, Feb) Suspended None Form guide DLDDWL Disciplinary record Y18 R1 Leading scorers Gardner, Jerome, Ridgewell 3 Chelsea Subs from Hilário, Turnbull, Ferreira, Bruma, Van Aanholt, McEachran, Kakuta, Sturridge, Borini, Mellis Doubtful Alex (knee), Cole (ankle) Injured Terry (sciatica, 28 Nov), Zhirkov (calf, 28 Nov), Lampard (groin, 12 Dec), Benayoun (achilles, Apr) Suspended Essien (second of three) Form guide LWLWWD Disciplinary record Y21 R1 Leading scorer Malouda 7 Match pointers • Birmingham have failed to score in nine of their 12 Premier League meetings with Chelsea and scored have four goals in total against them • Alex McLeish's side have drawn their last seven matches at home to Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool • Chelsea have failed to score in three of their last four league away matches • Nikola Zigic (6ft 7in) is the joint-tallest player ever to appear in the Premier League • Chelsea are one of two sides who are yet to lose points from a winning position