Page 21 - Josh Carson News Today

Two goals from Nikola Zigic, both from long throws from the left, saw Birmingham to a 2-1 victory over the Blues at St Andrew’s. Town deserved more from the game with Lee Martin slamming in a superb equaliser and the winger should have been awarded a second half penalty prior to the Serb’s final moments winner.

Alex Pearce’s second-half goal condemned the Blues to a 1-0 defeat at Reading. The loss was harsh on Town who were the better side in the first half of a tight game during which Jay Emmanuel-Thomas hit the bar from distance.

Skipper Grant Leadbitter looks set to come back into the Town side when the Blues visit Reading on New Year’s Eve (KO 3pm). The 25-year-old appears the most likely replacement for nine-goal top scorer Keith Andrews, who tore his hamstring at Leicester on Boxing Day, while Town will also be without striker Jason Scotland, also due to a hamstring problem.

Town boss Paul Jewell has admitted that the Blues are unlikely to sign former loanee Danny Collins on a permanent basis with the Stoke City defender probably preferring a switch to a club closer to his Cheshire home. Collins left Portman Road after an impressive 93-day loan last week.

Mick McCarthy says he’s still no nearer to knowing whether DJ Campbell will still be at Portman Road after his loan ends on January 5th. The 31-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has said he would be open to signing a permanent deal with a club in January but doesn’t want another loan, while QPR boss Harry Redknapp has intimated that Campbell will come into his plans on his return with attacking options currently short at Loftus Road.

Town boss Paul Jewell insists that nothing ought to be read into skipper Grant Leadbitter being left out of the 16 since his return from his groin injury. The midfielders contract is up in the summer with no new deal yet in place and the £2.65 million 2009 signing from Sunderlands recent absence from the squad had led to speculation that he was set to be sold in January.

Paul Jewell could stick with the line-up which should have beaten Watford last weekend when the Blues travel to Barnsley for Saturday’s live Sky game at Oakwell looking to end their run of seven successive defeats (Sky Sports Two/HD2 5pm). Skipper Grant Leadbitter is expected to miss out again due to his groin injury, while Ívar Ingimarsson is sidelined having broken his nose.

Simon Clegg says the atmosphere at Town’s Playford Road training ground has undergone a complete change since Paul Jewell took over as manager in January. The Blues chief executive was speaking at last night’s PLC AGM where assistant boss Chris Hutchings stood in for Jewell, who was absent on what Clegg described as “important family business”.

Manager Mick McCarthy says he’s been delighted with midfielder Luke Hyam since he took over at Portman Road just under a month ago. The 21-year-old is set to start for the first time under McCarthy’s management against Nottingham Forest at Portman Road tonight (KO 7.45pm).

Town caretaker-boss Chris Hutchings has made three changes for his first and possibly only game in charge of the Blues. Josh Carson, Luke Hyam and Daryl Murphy return to the side with Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Nigel Reo-Coker and Andy Drury dropping to the bench.