Birmingham 2-2 Bristol City result, stats and report

Bristol City dismantled a shambolic Preston side 3-1 at Deepdale, with the hosts offering almost nothing in defence and even less in terms of desire. Scott Twine set the tone inside four minutes and Preston never recovered.

Southampton created four big chances and missed three of them as Birmingham dug in for a 1-1 Championship draw, with Keven Schlotterbeck's header cancelled out by August Priske's second-half equaliser.

Brentford produced a thoroughly controlled performance to beat Birmingham 6-1 in the Carabao Cup, with the contest effectively settled by half-time as the visitors' structural dominance and aerial threat proved far too much for the hosts to handle.

Birmingham arrive at St Andrew's having drawn their opening two Championship games, while Middlesbrough carry an xG profile that suggests they are creating far more than their results show. Saturday's fixture has the makings of a tight, tactical contest where structure will decide everything.

Bristol City host Watford at Ashton Gate on Friday night sitting 19th in the Championship table, with an xG-against figure that points to structural problems at the back. Watford arrive with four points from two games and a clean sheet already banked in this division.

Southampton host Bristol City on Saturday carrying a significant injury burden and a points deduction that has them propping up the Championship table, while their visitors arrive with serious momentum from another division. This one has the makings of a genuine tactical test.

Derby carry the weight of a difficult opening to their Championship campaign into a home fixture against a Birmingham side that has quietly built a platform of defensive solidity. The tactical questions here are more interesting than the table positions suggest.

Norwich arrive at Carrow Road without a point from their opening two Championship games and carrying four long-term injury absences, while Birmingham have drawn both of theirs and shown they are hard to break down. Something has to give on Wednesday evening.