Brum vs Swans: Can Swansea's Cup Win Fuel Championship Fire?
Birmingham City are set to clash with Swansea City at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park this Saturday in a Championship showdown. For Birmingham City boss Chris Davies, this match carries extra significance. Davies, with Welsh roots, began his coaching career in south Wales, contributing to Swansea's Premier League promotion in 2011 under Brendan Rodgers.
Davies' Near Miss with Swansea
Davies revealed he was close to managing Swansea on two occasions during the 2023/24 season. "I spoke to them when I was at Spurs, and it developed, it was fairly close I would say, but in the end, I was really happy in my job at Spurs and stayed there," Davies stated. He added, "It’s all about timing, and it wasn’t right for me then, but obviously, they have gone on and made a great start to this season as well."
Davies now focuses on Birmingham's challenges, noting similarities between the two teams. Both sides favour possession-based football and boast solid defences, but both struggle to create numerous chances. A shared vulnerability at set-pieces is also evident, with both Birmingham and Swansea among the teams yet to score from a set-piece in the Championship this season.
Swansea's Momentum
Swansea enters the match buoyed by a stunning Carabao Cup victory over Premier League side Nottingham Forest. Coming from 2-0 down, Alan Sheehan's team secured a dramatic 4th-round spot thanks to Cameron Burgess' late volley. Adam Idah, who made his full debut in the match, emphasized the team's confidence. "It was a fantastic night. To play a game like that is brilliant. We didn't have the best of starts being 2-0 down," Idah said.
With a quick turnaround, Swansea now faces Birmingham at a sold-out St Andrew's. Despite the tight schedule, Idah believes the team's seven-game unbeaten run will provide a positive mindset. "There's real belief in this changing room, we've all got belief that we can do something," he added. "Birmingham aren't an easy side to face, they're going to be top quality, but so are we. It'll be an exciting game to play."