Everton v Birmingham City preview

Alex McLeish knows Birmingham City are a force at St Andrews, but they are poor on the road and are searching for their first win away at Everton on Boxing Day.

Birmingham have won none and lost nine of their last 14 Premier League away matches and that form is a major factor as to why they sit only two points above the Premier League bottom three.

Their game with Newcastle was postponed last weekend, but seven days before that they lost to Wolves without mustering a shot on target in 90 minutes. That was the second time they had hit that illustrious achievement, as when Everton beat Birmingham at St Andrews earlier in the season the home side did not have a shot on target.

McLeish knows Birmingham (6/1 to win the game) have only scored nine goals on the road this season and the Scottish manager will again be without one of his side's main attacking threats in James McFadden, but Alexander Hleb is back in training after four weeks out and comes into contention.

Everton come into this game on the back of a morale-boosting win over Manchester City at Eastlands on Monday night – achieved despite playing with ten men for the final 30 minutes. Before that they had not won in seven games and were dropping down the Premier League.

David Moyes' men have a poor home record and have only won two of their last nine at Goodison Park in the league, so Birmingham could have a good chance of breaking their away hoodoo. But the home side are 4/7 favourites to win the game.

Influential Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta is available to return after serving a three-match ban but Victor Anichebe starts a suspension after being sent-off against City. Louis Saha could replace him up front, while Johnny Heitinga has recovered from a knee problem.

Birmingham need to start improving on the road and this game is a clash of two teams who expected to be higher up the Premier League at Christmas before a ball was kicked. With both Scottish managers looking for their side to step up, this could be a heated occasion to warm the winter blues.