Four changes for Pulis

Stoke v Birmingham

Stoke boss Tony Pulis made four changes to his side for the visit of Birmingham to the Britannia Stadium as the Potters looked to halt a run of four straight defeats in the Barclays Premier League.

With Ryan Shawcross suspended after being sent off in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Sunderland, Danny Higginbotham came into the defence with Robert Huth assuming the captain’s armband.

Ricardo Fuller, Jermaine Pennant and Rory Delap were also handed starting places as Tuncay Sanli, Jon Walters and Marc Wilson dropped to the bench.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish made two changes to his side, promoting Craig Gardner and Jean Beausejour to the starting XI in place of Keith Fahey and Alexander Hleb, who were among the substitutes.