A cracker in store

Both sides go into this Midlands derby in good form having won their last two games.

The managerial focus was set to be on Steve Bruce, who was reportedly given three games to save his job afetr defeat by Norwich City earlier in the month.

Instead all the talk has been about Sky Blues manager Micky Adams.

His 'threat to quit' has been overplayed by the newspapers after Saturday's spat with the fans at Oakwell and a good reception is likely to be afforded to him on Tuesday night.

Robert Page on the Adams affair: 'Those decisions are what the manager is paid for.

'He is bold enough to make a decision like that.

'Fans have given him a little bit of stick but he has had the last laugh. He is the manager of a Championship club because he has knowledge of the game.

'That`s not being disrespectful to the fans because I have a lot of time for the fans, but he is in the position where he has to make a decision and the substitution he has made has got us the three points.'

Blues boss Steve Bruce on the managerial merry-go-round: 'You look at teams like Leeds United; seven managers in four years, Derby County - nine managers in five years, it`s doesn`t do you any good and history tells you that.

'If we go to Coventry City and we get beat and drift
down to sixth or seventh again, it`s crisis time. That`s how stupid it is.

'I think you can see by the attitude and the application of the players that they are right behind each other."

Both Clive Clarke and Marcus Hall are injury doubts, while Chris Birchall may come back in for Colin Cameron.

Likely to be on the bench again but provided the one moment of quality at Barnsley on Saturday and will be looking to make an impact at the Ricoh Arena.

Skipper Damien Johnson is out after being on the receiving end of a challenge by West Brom's Paul Robinson at the weekend that incensed Blues boss Steve Bruce.

Who else could it be? The Coventry-born star has made a big impact at St Andrew's and goes into the game on a high after his double against West Brom at the weekend.

The two sides last met in March 2002 at Highfield Road in a game that was crucial for both teams' hopes of making the play-offs.

Colin Healy gave the Sky Blues the lead but Birmingham left the happier after Geoff Horsfield's late equaliser.

Away games for both sides, Coventry travel to Stoke on Monday while Birmingham face the long trip to Plymouth at the weekend.

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