Birmingham v Boro
St Andrews@Knighthead Park
3pm Saturday 19th September 2026
In 1876 the lads at Middlesbrough Cricket Club decided to get fit. They had been binge-eating their way through the recipes in Mrs Beeton’s best-selling cookery book and were out of shape (they particularly liked the flattened chicken covered in cheese sauce she had come up with and felt it could catch on). Accordingly, they formed a football team to stay in action over the winter, although few people knew what they meant by football. This didn’t deter them; they were Victorians with a “can-do” attitude. 150 years later, here we are.
Meanwhile in 1876 in Birmingham things were also happening. They too had formed a football club the year before, and the Mayor of Birmingham, Joseph Chamberlain, was a real ball of energy with great ambitions for the city. Under his leadership the city built waterworks, schools and swimming pools, cleared slums and promoted world-leading businesses (a notable example being a firm manufacturing weather-proof window coverings for Alpine properties, the Peaky Blinders).
Joseph Chamberlain had a “can-do” attitude and didn’t wait around. He famously said, “there is no use looking beyond the next fortnight”.
Chris Davies, the current manager of Birmingham City FC may well agree; things move fast in football. Despite a stellar 2024-2025 season in League 1, in which he managed his team to promotion with a record 111 points, he commenced the current season as a manager thought to be under some pressure to perform from his club’s US owners. The said owners, ultimately Knighthead Capital Management, are very much “can-do” types, investing large sums in the squad and to purchase land in East Birmingham with plans to create a new Sports Quarter and a 62,000-capacity stadium. No pressure then Chris.
For an in-depth dive on the vast sums spent on squad and infrastructure by Knighthead I would refer readers to Selwynoz’s superb forensic analysis of the 26th of February this year.
On the pitch Birmingham found life back in the Championship a little challenging last season. Like Boro, they preferred a possession-based style, which had served them well in League 1. In the Championship, facing some stacked defences, they struggled at times to break teams down, particularly away from home where they obtained only 5 wins throughout the season. Despite reinforcements arriving in January, notably the Danish forward August Priske Flyger, midfielder Jhon Solis on loan from Girona and winger Ibrahim Osman on loan from Brighton, the season ended with Birmingham in mid-table, finishing 10th on 64 points, 9 points short of the play-offs.
Birmingham have responded by recruiting again in the summer, bringing in Max Bird for £2 million from Bristol City, Liam Miller on loan from Hull, and one Dael Fry on a free. Jhon Solis their loanee Columbian midfielder was made permanent for £6 million. They did lose the loanee Ibrahim Osman who has returned to his club Brighton having earned a place in that Premier League squad.
Birmingham’s start to this season has been solid, if unspectacular, picking up 10 points from 7 games, with 10 goals scored and 9 goals conceded. There have been some tough fixtures in those games though, with strong performances against Norwich and Wolverhampton Wanderers resulting in a loss and a draw when they could have got more from each game.
Notable performers in these early days of the season have been Liam Miller and Jay Stansfield, through whom much of their attacking play progresses; this term Birmingham have been prepared to employ a more direct style of play when required, getting the ball wide then putting in crosses for their big centre-forward August Priske. Five of ten goals scored in the league this season have been from headers.
Turning to the Boro, in Steve Gibson we have an owner who has bucketfuls of “can-do”. Readers of this preview need no reminding of his tremendous efforts over many years to support the club, from its rescue in 1986, it’s rise through the divisions to the topflight, cup finals, European football, and international stars gracing the shirt.
Steve Gibson’s competitive instincts appear to remain as strong as ever and this summer he has responded to play-off final defeat by investing heavily in the transfer market. A deep squad stacked with quality now looks to Kim Hellberg to plot a return to the Premier League.
The sheer number of new players in the squad has given rise to its own challenges however, with little time to integrate players and find playing patterns and connections amidst the welter of fixtures which the EFL has levered into the schedule prior to the first (16 day!) international break. Of the team which started the play-off final only four players started against Norwich last Saturday.
Notwithstanding this a respectable return of 14 points from 7 games has been obtained, and what may look like a settled first choice starting eleven is beginning to emerge. Too many goals are being conceded for comfort, but it is early days yet and there is reason to hope that Hellberg will rectify that on the training pitch; last season his team was parsimonious (47 goals against) and he has some quality defenders at his disposal this season. Unfortunately, just when we thought it was safe to give the physios a week off, the Boro curse of centre-half-itis has struck and both Malander and Jones look to be crocked for the upcoming fixture. The remaining available defenders are likely to come under some physical pressure from Birmingham and their ability in the air will be tested (Dael would you like to swap shirts for the afternoon?).
In attack Middlesbrough have started scoring more freely and the substitutes’ bench now offers both quality and variety. It has been good to see Riley McGree and Tommy Conway back in action, McGree putting in some eye-catching performances, Conway hopefully working his way back to the key role in the team which Hellberg so values. McGree and Conway have worked alongside new arrivals, the lively winger Amario Cozier-Duberry and marksman Will Lankshear. Boro fans will be hoping to see some potent attacking play from this line up, preferably with some goals on Saturday.
So, there it is, two venerable clubs with long histories dating back to the mid-Victorian era, over 300 years of football between them, and burning ambitions for the future. This game will be the 128th meeting between the two sides in all competitions – and as ever the question on Saturday at 3pm will be; who can do, and who cannot?
Many thanks Chris for your historic and contemporary preview that contrasts the Victorian values and brash new money of the modern game. Everyone is now in a hurry and that means spending big and expecting results now - gone are those days of pondering how to stay fit outside the season, most Championship players probably wouldn't have the energy to pick up a cricket bat during their few weeks off in the summer (if they're not involved in some international tournament) before getting back into a grueling preseason training.
It does seem like players are now out injured far more than they did a few decades ago - though Jones and Malander sound like minor problems that should see them fit again after the break - though if Jones is called up by Canada he could likely play 3 games before we get him back - Chile, Peru and then the 'friendly' grudge match against the USA - hopefully they'll be no 'blue on blue' incidents as our own US contingent get fired up by the crowd!
Sounds like a tough game awaits at Birmingham on Saturday - just that one defeat against Norwich this season but 4 draws and 2 wins sees them just outside the top 8. Hopefully Boro go into the break on a high as three weeks is a long time to dwell on another missed opportunity...
Excellent work, Chris. Thanks for putting that together for us.
Quite a tough game to call, this. Though I feel like we have a decent recent record at St Andrews.
With such a long break on the horizon, I just want to come out of it feeling positive to carry us through the tumbleweed weeks ahead.
Great read thank you Chris involving history and the current state of play.
This is one, given our recent history at St Andrews, I would have expected us to take all three points but our continuing inability to manage games over 90 mins gives me cause for concern.
A draw at best but I am fearing a “typical Boro” performance to leave us deflated during the break.
The one lingering hope is that it is still early in the season and there is time to put things right and it is about how you finish not how you start, as we all know too well over recent seasons. 😎
There will always be room for disagreement but I for one am massively impressed by the way that KH is prepared to talk honestly about the games, the tactics, the mistakes and the positives. He seems to be a really decent person who understands that MFC is the emotional heart of the town.
I admit to being 100% on board with the direction that the club has followed over the summer and the way that they have created a squad of real potential, real spirit and real youth. That latter point is maybe the most surprising. This squad is young and should get significantly better and more understanding of each other as time passes. With their ages, they could easily play together for the next two seasons or more and get better and better each year.
Everyone on this blog has been through the ups and downs of the club and it's perfectly reasonable to query what we see as faults, problems or mistakes but I hope that, at the same time, we can all take pleasure from this new version.
UTB
The US have 4 games in the break the last on Tuesday 6th in Minnesota, so any selected players probably not back until the Thursday before the Wolves game on the Saturday, although looking at some US sites they are predicting only Berhalter to be picked. Squad named on Thursday. Thinking about international football the Asian Cup is in January next year, so likely that we will lose Mcgree for an extended period in the New Year, if he stays fit.
Great work, Chris - full of info and background for Saturday’s game.
I think, as fans, we’ll be expecting to have a chance of winning every game this season - obviously that’s not going to be possible, but there aren’t many teams we should fear.
We’ll be on a train from Köln to Bruxelles when the game kicks off. Here’s hoping for on board WiFi.
Many thanks, Chris. It’s a lovely opener which brings in a bit of real history, a bit of tongue-in-cheek history ( I loved the Peaky Blinders!) and a good analysis of where the two clubs stand at present. Very enjoyable.
We do have a very strong record against them in recent years. Boro have won all of the previous seven games and have also won seven out of our last eight away in the league at St Andrews, including the last five in a row. That’s a quite remarkable record, and must make us one of their chief bogey teams. Birmingham have also drawn all three of their home games so far this season. They’ll be desperate to win this one.
Personally, I can’t see us extending this amazing winning streak this time out, principally because I have little confidence in our ability to stop the opposition scoring. I’d like to win obviously, but I think a draw would still be a positive result. UTB.
Thank you everyone for your generous feedback.
In truth, writing the preview was a welcome relief from wallpapering. We have a normal-size house but it is beginning to feel like decorating the Taj Mahal.
UTB
Adding my thanks @chris-from-barlby. That was a excellent read the other morning and I apologise for only "liking" it at the time, but I didn't have the time to scribble something in a proper reply.
I does appear we are going to be meeting Birminghame at just the wrong time. It is to be hoped that they will not sit deeply at home. otherwise we will (on current evidence) struggle to break them down sufficiently. We can score goals, the only thing is we currently have that tendency to concede them.
It was refreshig to read what KH had to say and I still have anawful lot of faith in what he is trying to do. I just wish he would pick Sol Brynn, who I think would give the defence a better sense of security. I noted Andy_R saying he would not have blamed Vitek for the first goal (well for either) against Millwall. I am sorry to have to disagree though (which I very rarely do with your (Andy's) take on things. Regradless of Ayling giving the guy the space, a giant the length of Vitek should never have let that in at the near post. I could be swithered on the second goal, but after watching it over and again and again, I still think he should have intercepted (or at least tried to intercept) that ball getting played back into the danger zone. That is his area to dominate and while I agree the ball was moving at a reaonable pace, he was not prepared to move to cut out anything, unless the ball had been played directly at him. While I am ranting, I also was only marginally impressed by the "great" save he made to stop Millwall re-taking the lead. The ball was headed down and bounced up directly at him. If you look, he is not on his toes, but flat footed. Had that header gone either side of him by 3 feet, I am not convinced he would have been able to react and get to it. Even as he did flap at the ball he neither caught it or got it away and fortunately for him ad us, Luke Ayling was first on hand to clear the ball to safety.
I need to stop this obsession ....
Thanks Chris for a very interesting and well-written piece. The way you have integrated your background research so seamlessly into such a readable and entertaining narrative is a real achievement. Greatly appreciated.
Good news only Barhalter of our Americans is in their squad for the friendlies in the upcoming window. Alfie Jones is in the Canadian squad . The site I looked at originally had him listed as a Vancouver Whitecaps player so I missed him.
@chris-from-barlby That was a very nice piece, and a Headliner to start more debate.
Which Boro will turn up, typical or untypical?
I expect us to score goals but will it be enough. As Clive said, we concede too many despite what Kim says. I cannot see us getting more than a point, but a loss will make it a long miserable wait until the next tough game against Wolves.
Riley Mcgree in the Socceroos squad. Fortunately they are only playing two games against Brazil and the second is on the 29th of September so he should be OK for the Wolves game.
A great starter. A good home debut like Phillips had at Riverside. Enjoyed that.
We cannot call Birmingham a bogey team versus Boro. Look at the stats given by BBC:
Birmingham City have lost each of their past seven Championship games against Middlesbrough since a 2-0 win in October 2021 under Lee Bowyer.
Middlesbrough have won seven of their past eight league visits to Birmingham, including their last five in a row since a 2-1 defeat in October 2019.
But it won't be easy to keep our record at St Andrew's. Still, I hope we keep our record of two points per match after the visit to Birmingham. The season wiĺl be long but we must collect as many points as possible.
Up the Boro!
@mw-in-darwin. Assuming he doesn’t pick up an injury whilst on international duty! 😉😎
Cozier-Duberry, Lankshear and Philips in England Under 21 squad. The furthest they have to travel is to Cork, they have two home games as well.