Match Preview: Birmingham City vs. Leicester City

Leicester City’s pre-season comes to an end on Saturday when they head to St. Andrew’s to face Birmingham City. 

The Foxes have won three out of their four pre-season friendly fixtures, most recently beating Rotherham United 2-1 at the New York Stadium. 

Goals from Riyad Mahrez and David Nugent saw the Foxes win the game 2-1, with Grant Ward pulling one back for the hosts late on. 

While a victory was welcome, manager Claudio Ranieri felt 90 minutes for the majority of his first team players was the main positive of the week. 

Birmingham City are the opposition for the Foxes’ final fixture of pre-season, providing City players the chance to get some final minutes under their belt ahead of the 2015/16 campaign. 

Gary Rowett’s men have enjoyed a mixed pre-season, beating Nuneaton Town and Shrewsbury Town, drawing against Kidderminster Harriers and losing to Burton Albion and Benfica B. 

The Blues finished 10th in the Championship table last season and kick-off their 2015/16 campaign with a home fixture against Reading on Saturday 8 August. 

Leicester and Birmingham last met in January 2014, when goals from Lloyd Dyer and Jamie Vardy secured a 2-1 Championship win at St. Andrew’s. 

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri told Foxes Player HD after the win at Rotherham: "I’m happy, we played against a good team. For us it was an improvement. It was another 90 minutes for the other 11 players. We played some good football, scored two goals and had some other chances. 

“I don’t like to concede a goal, but now it’s important to focus against Birmingham and then the start of the season against Sunderland. 

“In the first half it was important to know the opponent and keep possession of the ball, and in the second half to go straight away and try to make something different. 

“I think the team is ready for the start of the season. I know last season that they played in different systems – we can do the same this season. Now, I will look at tonight’s game and the other training sessions and I will choose a staring XI.”