Steve Bruce is forced into making team changes for the clash with Notts. Forest at St. Andrew's on New Years Day because of injuries and suspensions.

Woodhouse suspended for one game
Stan Lazaridis has failed to recover from the hamstring strain he picked up in the game with Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day and Bryan Hughes will miss his second successive match because of a groin injury.

The side is further weakened by the absence of central-defender Darren Purse and midfielder Curtis Woodhouse who are both serving one-game suspensions after collecting five bookings this season.

Bruce must now decide on whether to play Graham Hyde or give on-loan Polish international Arkadiusz Bak his full debut along side Martin O'Connor in midfield.

He also has to decide who is going to play at centre half in Purses absence.
Michael Johnson and David Holdsworth are both available but neither have played any first team games in the last couple of weeks.

Joey Hutchinson has recently had treatment for a hamstring strain so it's doubtful that he'll be included.

There is a possibility that David Burrows could fill Purses place having played at centre half in the reserves recently.

Blues go into the game looking for their fouth win in a row having won all three of their Christmas fixtures.