The wintry conditions are supposed to cancel out the advantages of the stronger team but this game would have had the makings of a close contest in any case. Birmingham enjoy the best defensive record at home of any club in the Premier League, with just five goals conceded. If Alex McLeish's team are still underestimated slightly the same, oddly, may be true of the famous visitors. While Manchester United were inevitably diminished by the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo, standards have declined at other clubs, too, and Sir Alex Ferguson's side has real hope of retaining the title. Kevin McCarra

Venue St Andrew's

Tickets Sold out

Last season n/a

Referee M Clattenburg

This season's matches 17 Y50, R3, 3.12 cards per game

sportingbet odds Birmingham 5-1 Man Utd 1-2 Draw 11-4

Birmingham

Subs from Maik Taylor, Fahey, O'Shea, McSheffrey, Queudrue, Phillips, D Johnson, Martin Taylor, Espinoza

Doubtful Martin Taylor (back)

Injured Tainio (knee, Feb), O'Connor (hip, Mar), Carsley (ankle, unknown), Murphy (knee, unknown), Parnaby (back, unknown)

Suspended None

Form guide WDDWWW

Disciplinary record Y35 R1

Leading scorer Bowyer 5

Manchester United

Subs from Foster, Carrick, Scholes, Anderson, Owen, Welbeck, Gibson, Obertan, Tosic, Rafael, Fabio, De Laet

Doubtful Foster (back), Scholes (hip)

Injured Macheda (hamstring, 19 Jan), Nani (ankle, 19 Jan), Vidic (calf, 19 Jan), Ferdinand (back, Feb), O'Shea (thigh, Mar), Hargreaves (knee, unknown)

Suspended None

Unavailable Van der Sar (compassionate leave)

Form guide WWLWLW

Disciplinary record Y31 R2

Leading scorer Rooney 14

Match pointers

• Birmingham have failed to score in nine of their 11 Premier League meetings with Manchester United

• United have won 16 and drawn six of the last 22 meetings between these sides in all competitions

• Birmingham have fielded the same starting lineup in their last eight Premier League matches, a joint record in the competition

• United have won only one of the last five Premier League games with Mark Clattenburg as referee

• Birmingham have conceded 214 fouls, fewer than any other side in the division