Birmingham City vs Brentford
Monday 2 January St Andrew's Sky Bet Championship Kick-off: 3pm
The Opponents
It was all change at St Andrew's in December as Birmingham City parted company with Gary Rowett despite Blues sitting seventh in the Sky Bet Championship table. Gianfranco Zola was swiftly brought in to replace Rowett but the former Chelsea and Italy striker is still waiting for his first win in charge. He did at least pick up his first point, at the third attempt, on Saturday with a 2-2 draw at Barnsley following defeats to Brighton and Hove Albion and Derby County. That run of three games without a win sees Blues head into Monday's match 11th in the table, six points off the Play-Off places.
Striker Lukas Jutkiewicz recently made his loan move from Burnley permanent while summer signing Jack Storer has headed out on loan to Yeovil Town. Blues have been boosted by the return of David Cotterill but will be without the services of Clayton Donaldson and Paul Caddis through injury for Monday's match.
The Manager
Gianfranco Zola enjoyed a glittering playing career in Italy and England. He burst onto the scene at Napoli in the late 1980's alongside Maradona helping them to a League title and Italian SuperCup. After a spell at Parma that included winning the UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup, the diminutive striker moved to Chelsea in 1997. In seven years in West London, Zola picked up six trophies, two Chelsea Player of the Year awards, and the 1997 Football Writers Association Player of the Year prize. In 2005 he was named in the Chelsea centenary XI and was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2006. Zola earned 35 caps for Italy, scoring ten goals, before his retirement from football in 2005.
A year after retiring Zola was appointed Italy Under-21s assistant manager before taking over at West Ham United in 2008. Zola spent two years at Upton Park, leaving after a disappointing 2009/10 season, and took up the reigns at Watford two years later. He led Watford to the Play-Off final in his first season but left midway through his second season with The Hornets 13th in the Championship. Brief spells with Cagliari and Al-Arabi followed before his appointment at St Andrew's last month.
The Match Officials
Referee: James Adcock Assistant Referees: Nigel Lugg and Michael George Fourth Official: John Brooks
Pre-match Views
Dean Smith expects different test against Blues
Ticket and Travel news
Tickets and collections for tomorrow's game will be from the Away Turnstiles at St Andrew's on matchday, cash only. Click here for more information.
For a visitors guide to St Andrew's click here.
Match Betting
Principal partners 888sport offer the latest odds on tomorrow's meeting.
Bees 39/20 Blues 27/20 Draw 23/10
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Match Coverage
You can hear live match commentary on Bees Player from 2.30pm tomorrow, with Mark Burridge, Marcus Gayle, and Simon Webster.
There will be live match updates on Twitter from 2pm.
All the coverage of Monday's match can also be found in one place with our new club App. Download for free here.