'It's a shame' - The West Brom view of their Birmingham City rivalry

Birmingham City face Steve Bruce and West Bromwich Albion at St Andrew’s on Sunday looking for a first win in four attempts.

They are also searching for a first victory over the Baggies in 15 years, since Bruce was a youngish manager with a globe and ball on his chest. Blues last beat a Bruce team when he was with Hull in March 2016 - and never when he was in charge of you-know-who from you-know-where.

Albion will have Andy Carroll fit again but won’t have Daryl Dike, while Blues expect to be able to recall Lyle Taylor. We caught up with BirminghamLive’s Baggies reporter Joe Chapman for his insight into Bruce, Albion and this game.

Albion had a great start to life under Valerien Ismael. They’d never gone ten games at the start of a season without a defeat, so they were breaking records, too. Around the time Blues came and visited, they were just showing signs of creaking though.

They nicked the winner through Grant but after that they just became so inconsistent. They’d turn teams over at home, but routinely get beaten away. Then the home form began to take a turn for the worse, too, and by January things became unbearable.

Val was a good bloke but the job became untenable. Like with Big Sam 12 months earlier, Albion opted for a safe pair of hands with Steve Bruce. He didn’t get an immediate bounce and the play-offs now look out of sight, but they’re four unbeaten and should be up for the Blues game.

It’s a shame that there isn’t a way in football for both sides to lose, otherwise that’d be the ideal scenario at Molineux on Saturday! Anyway, that’s by the by.

For me, with my Albion allegiances, I’ve never had a problem with Blues and I think that attitude is pretty mutual. That’s not to say fans on either side want