Birmingham travel to face Newcastle at St James’ Park this weekend.
Former Birmingham City defender Martin Taylor has suggested to the Blues that the first 20 minutes of their clash with Newcastle United this weekend could be crucial to their hopes of causing an upset, the Birmingham Mail reports.
Gary Rowett’s men may be travelling to the home of the league leaders and may be going into the fixture off the back of a hugely disappointing 3-0 defeat at home against Barnsley last weekend, but there is definitely reason for the Midlands side to be optimistic about their chances.
Birmingham manager Gary Rowett
The Magpies have watched most of their lead at the top of the table evaporate in recent weeks, having lost their last three games in all competitions, including their last two in the Championship.
And Taylor has claimed that capitalising on Newcastle’s current form during the early stages of the contest could be essential.
“To get any positive result you have got to play on the fact they have lost their last two games,” he said, as reported by the Mail.
Martin Taylor, during his time with Birmingham
“When you are winning it is a great place to play and they have got 50,000 people behind them.
“But after 20 minutes if they are struggling or finding it tough the crowd will turn very quiet.
“It can be done, Blackburn did it and nobody gave them a prayer going there.”
Newcastle United’s Yoan Gouffran celebrates
With Blackburn and Nottingham Forest perhaps taking advantage of the fact that many had assumed that Rafael Benitez’s men already had one hand on the Championship trophy and exploiting any complacency, there is arguably no reason why Birmingham cannot do the same.
Before their defeat to the Tykes, Rowett’s men had been unbeaten in four. And even after the loss, they still sit fifth and just nine points off the summit, so will still have plenty of confidence about their chances.
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