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Leeds United at Birmingham City FC: Time, TV, lineups, preview, talking stocks at St. Andrews

Do Leeds and Birmingham still have cash in the game on Tuesday night? Or are all accounts closed? We'll find out in a few hours.

LUFC heads to St. Andrew's to play under the lights.
LUFC heads to St. Andrew's to play under the lights.
Michael Steele/Getty Images

As we approach the business end of the season, Birmingham City have gone into receivership, and yet it is the Blues who are still trading in the playoff market. With 6 games remaining, it is still mathematically possible they can reach those playoffs (however unlikely). On the field, it is Leeds United who are bankrupt of possibility this season, and it will be interesting to see how the Whites come out after four matches without a win.

Mover and Shaker

With Leeds' major summer investment, Chris Wood, unable to capitalize on gilt-edged opportunities in Saturday's loss to Burnley, and with Doukara's season ending ban for biting, March's SkyBet Championship Player of the Month nominee, Mirco Antenucci, is in this writer's opinion the only mover and shaker that can do the business for Leeds. He should be starting this game if Leeds are to gain maximum profits in this fixture.

Dividends

At the foot of the Championship index there are only 11 points separating Leeds from Milton Keynes who occupy the final relegation spot. It's not lost on the rightly-pessimistic Leeds faithful that their place in the Championship next season is not yet a surety. Maximum returns are required against Birmingham to ensure that Leeds are still trading in the Championship next season and their stock doesn't fall further.

Back in October, under previous Manager Uwe Rosler, Leeds lost the home tie against the Blues 2 goals to nil, yet there is not much on paper to separate to the two sides. If Leeds United Head Coach Steve Evans gets the line-up and tactics right it should pay dividends.

Form

Of their last five, Birmingham have lost 2, drawn 2 and won 1. They have scored 5 and conceded 5.

Of their last five, Leeds United has lost 3, drawn 1, and won 1. They have scored 5 and conceded 9.

Head-to-Head Results

Of the 48 meetings at Birmingham the host have been victors 27 times, Leeds 12 and games drawn is 9.

Leeds player to watch

Antenucci was industrious against Burnley when he came on, so he's my player to watch in this one. In March, his four goals in four games earned him a SkyBet Player of the Month nomination. With his contract up at the end of the season, ‘The Beard' is still trying to impress, and Leeds could benefit from this should he be given the opportunity. He is joint top-scorer with 9 goals and has added 3 assists.

Birmingham player to watch

It was a surprise to many that Kyle Lafferty chose to move to a club in receivership rather than Leeds who had publicly courted him for months. With Leeds being unable to broker a deal, Lafferty opted for the Blues. Most Leeds fans were skeptical of Lafferty's ability, and this is an opportunity for them to see if the Northern Irish hitman is worth pursuing in the summer. Since his loan, Lafferty has played two games for Birmingham and scored a single goal.

WHAT

Birmingham City FC v Leeds United

Football League Championship

WHERE

St. Andrew's, Birmingham

BBC Radio Leeds, LUTV

WHEN

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

11:45a PT / 2:45p ET / 7:45p BT

WHO

Leeds United

Silvestri, Berardi, Bamba, Cooper, Taylor, Diagouraga, Murphy, Cook, Dallas, Antenucci, Wood

Subs: Peacock-Farrell, Coyle, Bellusci, Adeyemi, Phillips, Mowatt, Carayol

Birmingham City

Legzdins, Caddis, Morrison, Shotton, Grounds, Gleeson, Davis, Kieftenbeld, Cotterill, Donaldson, Lafferty

Subs: Kuszczak, Fabbrini, Vaughan, Solomon-Otabor, Maghoma, Toral, Spector

ODDS

Leeds 5/2

Draw 12/5

Birmingham 11/10

PREDICTION

Again, I predict a low-scoring draw. 1-1.

Make sure you read our Q&A with Birmingham blog Often Partisan before this game, and remember to leave comments below or on social media. Follow along with the game at @ThruItAllLive (embedded below) and find us on Facebook and Twitter as well. (And tell your friends!) Thanks for reading. #MOT.