Birmingham v Newcastle: where to watch, predictable lineups and predictions

The FA Cup clash between Birmingham City and Newcastle United presents an intriguing matchup, drawing considerable attention from football enthusiasts. Fans in the UK can watch the game on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, or BBC Sport, while viewers in the US can tune into ESPN+ or the ESPN app. Canadian audiences have various options through Sportsnet channels. This match is particularly significant as Birmingham seeks to maintain its impressive unbeaten streak of 18 games, despite being considered underdogs against a formidable Newcastle side currently positioned sixth in the Premier League.

The Magpies secured a 2-0 win over Arsenal on Wednesday night that booked their place in the Carabao Cup final for the second time in three seasons. They are now tantalisingly close to a first major trophy since 1955.

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Eddie Howe's side will be strong favourites for their fourth round tie at St Andrew's but they will have to end Birmingham's impressive 18-game unbeaten run if they are to progress. The Blues are sitting pretty atop League One as they seek a return to the Championship - the competition in which they most recently faced Newcastle in 2017.

Predictable match lineups:

Birmingham City possible starting lineup: Allsop; Klarer, Davies, Cochrane; Laird, Dowell, Iwata, Gardner-Hickman, Anderson; Dykes, Stansfield

Newcastle United possible starting lineup: Dubravka; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn, Targett; Murphy, Miley, Longstaff, Willock; Wilson

The match is scheduled to kick-off at 5:45pm (GMT) on Saturday 8, February and will be broadcast live on BBC One. It can also be streamed in the UK on BBC iPlayer.

In the USA, amid connections between Birmingham and minority Blues owner Tom Brady, the match is also set to be streamed on ESPN+.

In terms of predicted lineups, Birmingham is expected to adopt a 4-2-3-1 formation featuring Allsopp; Laird, Klarer, Davies, Cochrane; Dowell, Iwata; Anderson, Leonard , Stansfield; and May . On the contrary, Newcastle's lineup may be impacted by key injuries affecting players such as Joelinton and Harvey Barnes. Despite these setbacks for Newcastle—who are also competing strongly after reaching the EFL Cup final—Birmingham’s recent form suggests that they could pose a significant challenge.

Considering both teams' current trajectories and injury concerns for Newcastle , predictions lean towards a competitive encounter. While bookmakers may favor Newcastle due to their higher league standing and overall squad depth, Birmingham's resilience cannot be underestimated. The outcome remains uncertain; however, one can anticipate a closely contested match with potential for either side to progress further in this prestigious tournament.

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Sarah H

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