Premiership Preview - Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers

Birmingham City
Last Season: 2nd in Championship (Promoted)

Second time around for Steve Bruce in the Premiership, and is he better equipped to stay in it this time? While the experience of his previous campaigns in the top flight will stand him in good stead, his playing staff looks weaker this time.

Bruce no longer has the likes of Emile Heskey, Jermaine Pennant and Matthew Upson to call upon any more, while much of last year’s goalscoring burden was taken on by Nicklas Bendtner, who has now returned to Arsenal.

On the plus side, Cameron Jerome is an emerging talent, Gary McSheffrey will be eager to perform in the Premiership and new signings Daniel De Ridder and Olivier Kapo will add class. Hossam Ghaly will also add much needed experience, as will his Spurs mate Mido if he signs.

On paper, Bruce’s squad looks two or three players short of being able to compete at the same level as when they first got the Premiership and occupied the top half. If Mikael Forssell can rediscover the form he showed before his injuries, then he will of course be a bonus, but a season of struggle awaits.

Unlike the managers of the other promoted sides, Bruce has top flight experience. He was understandably stung by relegation in 2006, and will do everything possible to ensure he doesn’t go through it again.

He’ll have to adapt his team to take on the special demands of the Premiership. Fans will point to the unforgettable 5-1 FA Cup win at St. James’ Park last season as evidence that Blues can more than hold their own, but one swallow (or should that be one flood) doesn’t make a summer, and a long battle to avoid a swift return to the Championship looks likely.

Key Man: Radhi Jaidi. Moved from Bolton last summer and was a key player in City's promotion.

One to Watch: Fabrice Muamba. Thought of as yet another ‘new Vieira’ at Arsenal, he’ll hope to build on last season’s impressive loan spell at St. Andrews.
This Season: They’ll battle away with typical Brummie doggedness, and stand a good chance of staying up.

Blackburn Rovers
Last Season: 10th
Blackburn’s seasons seem to have mirrored each other over the past few years. A good cup run in one or more competitions, and a solid Premiership campaign culminating in a strong finish, a place in the top half of the table and European qualification. Are their fans happy with this? Probably.

At the time of writing, the only major additions to the Rovers squad this summer are the Paraguayan forward Roque Santa Cruz and the young Dutch striker Maceo Rigters. Bar them, they effectively go into the season with the same group of players as the last campaign. They of course did very well last year, and will be looking to maintain that level of performance.

A fully fit Robbie Savage adds bite to any midfield, and Mark Hughes will hope that he and Ryan Nelsen will be able to stay healthy throughout the campaign. A forward line of Benni McCarthy, Jason Roberts, Matt Derbyshire, Santa Cruz and Rigters looks like guaranteeing goals, although one seems likely to leave. David Bentley and Morten Gamst Pedersen are two of the league’s most creative midfielders.

This could be a watershed season for Hughes. Sir Alex Ferguson can’t go on forever, whatever he thinks, and many see the Welshman as his ideal replacement. Just as Steve McClaren’s run to the UEFA Cup Final seemed to persuade the England hierarchy that he was right for that job, perhaps a good European run could see the United board turn to Hughes.

As for the league, Blackburn’s home form will ensure that the word ‘relegation’ should never be uttered around Ewood Park, and expect them to once again make life difficult for each and every team they come up against. Their usual season beckons.

Key Man: Ryan Nelsen. Out for so long with injury last season, the New Zealander is a rock at the heart of the Rovers defence when fit.
One to Watch: Stephen Warnock. Impressed after joining from Liverpool last January, continuing that form could see him force his way into the England squad.
This Season: What you see is what you get. European qualification.