Birmingham City's 2015/16 season
League Position: 10th (2014/15: 10th)
Average league attendance: 17,602 (2014/15: 16,111)
Top league goalscorer: Clayton Donaldson (11)
It was a frustrating season at St Andrews which promised so much but in the end fizzled out into a mid-table finish after Blues picked up just three wins from the last three months of the season to finish tenth for a second year running. Maikel Kieftenbeld [FC Groningen]; Jacques Maghoma [Sheffield Wednesday]; Nicolai Brock-Madsen [Randers FC]; and Michael Morrison [Charlton Athletic] all joined on permanent deals last summer. Gary Rowett also completed a straight goalkeeping swap of two in and two out. Colin Doyle [Blackpool] and Darren Randolph [West Ham United] left, with Thomasz Kuszczak [Wolverhampton Wanderers] and Adam Legzdins [Leyton Orient] coming in. Former Brentford loan signing Jon Toral also joined on a season-long loan from Arsenal.
After a solid start to the campaign which included wins over Reading, MK Dons, and Bristol City, and a narrow 1-0 Capital One Cup Third Round defeat to bitter rivals Aston Villa, Gary Rowett’s side hit their stride in late September. A run of four straight wins, including a 2-0 victory over The Bees at Griffin Park propelled them up to second in the table. That lofty position wasn’t to last as they won just one of their next nine to slip away from the Play-Off pack. Five wins in seven matches over Christmas and New Year hinted that a tilt at promotion might be a possibility, despite the loss of winger Demarai Gray to eventual Premier League Championship in January. However the goals dried up as the season drew towards it's conclusion which led to a run of just three wins in 18 matches from February onwards, confirming that Blues would be embarking on a sixth straight season in the second tier this August.
The Ground
St. Andrew's Stadium Birmingham B9 4RL
Click here for directions to St Andrew's
The Manager
Former City player Gary Rowett joined Blues from Burton Albion in October 2014, replacing Lee Clark. With appearances for Everton, Derby County, Leicester City and Cambridge United in a 16-year playing career, Rowett made the step into management after hanging up his boots with Burton. Rowett led The Brewers to the Sky Bet League Two Play-Offs in both his full season's with the club before moving to St Andrew's to save his old club from the relegation places during the 2014/15 season. Despite Blues sitting 21st when he took over he guided them to a tenth placed finish before matching that feat again last season. After just over 18 months in the job, Rowett already finds himself as the fourth longest serving manager in the second tier.
The First Meeting
9 November 1935, Football League Division One - Birmingham City 2 Brentford 1 Brentford: Mathieson, Ashley, Poyser, McKenzie, James, Watson, Hopkins, Robson, Dunn, Burns, Fletcher Billy Dunn scores his only Brentford goal in reversal at St Andrews
The Last Meeting
2 January 2016, Sky Bet Championship - Birmingham City 2 Brentford 1 Brentford: Button, Colin, Dean, Tarkowski, Bidwell, Woods, Diagouraga, Swift, Judge, Canos, Vibe Last minute Maikel Kieftenbeld goal condemns Brentford to defeat
Head to Head
Brentford wins: 9 Draws: 7 Birmingham wins: 20