Davies does his homework before Blues' trip to Cardiff

Chris Davies has used a free midweek to study Cardiff City in detail ahead of Birmingham City's trip to South Wales on Saturday, and admitted his family are used to him spending hours watching football.

Blues have not played Cardiff in the past two seasons, and Davies has never faced Brian Barry-Murphy, the Cardiff manager. In Birmingham's League One days, Davies would watch ten of an opponent's matches to understand everything they might throw at his team.

"I don't watch every minute of every game," he said at his pre-match press conference on Thursday. "I try to watch every minute of the last few games, but I tend to watch periods of the others. I like to watch the start of the games, then just after half-time, then the closing part of the game. You get a sense of everything there."

"I like to watch every game a team's played, so I know if they've changed system or they've got the same shape, what sub comes on, and then you get a good feel for them. I've got a very understanding wife. I like The Traitors, but apart from that I don't watch much telly."

"A very difficult match"

Davies expects a tough afternoon. "They're a good team and well set up in terms of the football they play: 4-3-3, very expansive in the way they play, they open the pitch up," he said. "They're difficult to stop, particularly at home, and obviously they will have the home crowd on their side. We'll be tested without the ball, and hopefully we can continue our clinical streak when we get our chances."

In many ways Cardiff are following the path Blues took. Relegated to League One, they built a team with a clear identity under a young manager and bounced straight back. They have scored eight goals in their last two home games, drew 2-2 with Middlesbrough last time out despite missing several key players, and create some of the best chances in the Championship.

A settled squad

Blues arrive in good form, with three straight wins without conceding a goal, and Davies has warned his players against complacency. They have already won in South Wales once this season and have won four of their six away games in all competitions.

A healthy squad has been key to their recent run. Davies has picked the same 20 players for the last three games, a luxury Cardiff, who are short of defenders, can only envy.

Paik Seung-ho has not been missed, but the South Korean midfielder is not expected back soon. "Paik's made slow progress," Davies said. "I think he's still a few weeks away. We'll just have to wait a little bit longer and be patient with it. He's working hard to minimise that."

Davies took charge at St Andrew's in the summer of 2024 and led Blues to the League One title with a record points total in his first season. The club's owners have big ambitions, including a new stadium in the planned Birmingham Sports Quarter, and supporters will be hoping the current run marks the start of a push towards the top of the table.

The match is at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday.