Birmingham – Burnley

Birmingham are finishing very successful season for them. However, they’re in a bad run of results with eight games without a win and four consecutive draws at home. In previous round, lost a derby game vs. Villa, despite very good display. If they fail in last two games, theoretically could lost four places. Side-back, Stephen Carr, is banned for one match in light of the gestures he made at Aston Villa. Striker Christian Benitez may feature after a six-game absence.

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Burnley booked their ticket to Championship long time ago. Their Premiership story came to end when Owen Coyle left the club. Everything after that have been just torturing the fans. Chairman Barry Kilby said, thankfully to this season they won’t have any financial worries in next 10 years. If it was a target, ok then. Regarding their performances, without Coyle they’re just an average Championship squad. With new manager, Brian Laws (have picked up just 7 points from a possible 48 since he took the charge) they’re even less than that. They stopped winning at home, while on the road have 16 defeats of 18 games (goal difference 16-50)! Haven’t noticed a clean sheet in 25 games and need to concede against Brum to equal Wimbledon's Premier League record from 11 years ago. Defender Clarke Carlisle is absent again. 

This is the last home game for Birmingham and I think after unfair defeat in derby game, they’ll want to put some effort and play for the fans. Difference in quality are big as well. Burnley will play for the scouts and I can’t see any improving. Bet is Birmingham -1 ah @ 1.92 Pinnacle.

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Tuesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP 

Manchester United have offered over £60m for Bayern Munich's French midfielder Franck Ribery, suggesting Cristiano Ronaldo will be on his way to Real Madrid in the summer (The Guardian). 
Birmingham are set to offer defender Stephen Carr a long-term deal and will also try to sign West Ham midfielder Lee Bowyer, who has been on loan at St Andrew's, on a permanent deal (The Guardian).
Birmingham also want Rangers striker Kris Boyd and one of his team-mates at Ibrox, defender Madjid Bougherra (Daily Record). 
Rangers duo Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor could join Boyd in moving to St Andrew's in the summer. (The Herald)
Free agents Sol Campbell, Kanu and Sean Davis could lead the way in a mass exodus from Portsmouth this summer (Daily Mirror). 
Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink has told some of his older players they are playing for their futures and he will recommend who should stay and who should go when he leaves (Daily Mail).
 
OTHER GOSSIP 

England midfielder Frank Lampard says the more Chelsea fail in the Champions League, the more he understands people saying they are destined not to win it - but the more determined he is to prove them wrong (The Independent). 
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says his side's Champions League semi-final against Arsenal is "unquestionably" his biggest showdown with old rival Arsene Wenger (Daily Express).
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez says he wanted Sami Hyypia, who has agreed to join Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season, to stay at Anfield, with an eye on an eventual coaching role. The Spaniard added "the door is always open" for the defender's return (Daily Telegraph). 
Joey Barton's agent insists the midfielder wants to stay at Newcastle next season, even if the Magpies are relegated (Daily Star).
However, Barton may already have played his last game for the club after being suspended without pay for two weeks following a post-match bust-up with boss Alan Shearer following the player's red card at Liverpool (The Times). 
Hull duo Daniel Cousin and Geovanni had to be separated during an on-field argument at half-time in their defeat by Aston Villa on Monday night (Daily Telegraph).
Aberdeen midfielder Jamie Smith says he may quit the club to secure his family's future rather than wait to the end of the season to see if he is offered a new deal (Daily Record) .
Rotherham manager Mark Robins is Norwich's number one target to be their next manager after Bryan Gunn failed to keep the side in the Championship (Daily Mail).  

AND FINALLY 

Manchester United want to raise the capacity of Old Trafford to 95,000, which would be bigger than Wembley (The Sun). 
Full story Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo says a red London bus was his first image of England and he plans to buy one and keep it in his back garden for his nieces and nephews to play in when they come to visit (Daily Star).
Injured Everton midfielder Phil Jagielka says he "cried uncontrollably" when he realised he would miss the FA Cup final because of his knee problem (The Independent). 
Oscar-nominated film-maker Emir Kusturica says he felt "killed" by English critics' reviews of his biographical film about Argentine legend Diego Maradona because of their obsession with the 'hand of God' goal rather than his plus points (The Guardian). 
Television presenter, author, actor and director Stephen Fry sent a Twitter message to his followers saying "Norwich in the third tier - sob" as they were relegated on Sunday (Daily Mail). 
Preston defender Sean St Ledger has had to cancel his end of season trip to Mexico after scoring the goal that put his team in the Championship play-offs against Sheffield United (Daily Mirror).
www.bbc.co.uk