Birmingham City vs Everton Match Preview
Birmingham picked up three points against Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Tuesday to make up for their 2-0 FA Cup loss to Pompey at the weekend.
Eighth place Birmingham are just two points behind local rivals Aston Villa, but their form has been up and down. Four wins, four losses and a draw from their last nine games in all competitions.
Birmingham come into the Everton match on Saturday with injuries to Lee Carsley, Teemu Tainio and James McFadden.
A higher position in the league would qualify Alex McLeish’s side for a European tour next season but the Scot feels his team lack firepower. With a well-stocked war chest Birmingham will likely be looking for strikers in the off-season.
American international Landon Donovan may have played his final match at Goodison Park this season as his loan spell at Everton is due to end this week.
Everton manager David Moyes wants to keep Donovan around; the American has made a positive impact since his arrival on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy in January. But Galaxy manager Bruce Arena says nothing doing. He wants Donovan back in LA on schedule. Moyes will be hoping that a labor dispute in the MLS will give Donovan more time in England. Otherwise, he’ll be back in Los Angeles on March 15, and Saturday's match at Birmingham will be Donovan’s farewell.
A win on Saturday would lift ninth place Everton over Birmingham in the league table. Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini is out for the season and as Saturday approaches. Injuries to Philippe Senderos, Louis Saha, Tony Hibbert and Tim Cahill also limit manager David Moyes’ selection options.
