Tonight will be Sunderland's final game before the World Cup kicks off. We spoke to the lovely lads from the 'AccessiBlues' charity to discuss how they've done in the first section of this season...
Birmingham are 10th in the league. Are you happy with how Blues are doing this season?
So far, this is the best season we've experienced in the last five or so years. I don't think there's a Blues supporter anywhere that will be disappointed with the start we've had. If we finish in this position at the end of the season, it's a huge improvement.
Scott Hogan is your top scorer with nine goals in 20 games. What kind of striker is he?
He's a nippy forward with a lot of experience. When his confidence is there, he will score for fun. He has been a bit hit and miss over the years, but has been a regular in the squad and now looks to be at his best.
Sunderland fans will recognise Troy Deeney's name. At 34, what does he bring to this Birmingham team?
Since Troy took the captain's armband the team has been well organised and disciplined. He leads by example and whilst he'll be brutally honest with his team, he's also great at keeping morale high and motivated. He's a tremendous mentor for the younger lads in the squad and is helping each one improve their game.
How's former Sunderland fan favourite Dion Sanderson been doing?
Dion has picked up the most yellow cards in our squad this season so far. I think this shows that his game is very physical and he's difficult to break down in the back line. Just like Hogan, he's a regular in our starting XI, which tells you he's rated well by all- including our head coach, John Eustace.
What are your thoughts on Eustace?
John came in and we were all sceptical of his appointment. I think the constant changes were starting to wear thin with the fanbase and this (coupled with the reports he supports that other team down the road) affected early opinions. But he's done extremely well to move this team away from early predictions of us fighting relegation. The work he's done has been unbelievable thus far and fans are starting to believe he's the man to take us forward.
How does he like to set the team up?
His favoured formation seems to be 3-5-2 and the players have adapted well to this way of lining up.
Which Sunderland player could cause you guys some damage?
I'll be as honest as Deeney would be! The team currently fears nobody and we don't feel anyone from any team can damage us. Obviously, anyone who can break through us and score is probably the only damage we could face. We are, however, confident and strong around our goal and bodies are regularly put on the line to protect it. That confidence and strength is an attribute we take forwards to the opposition too and has helped us to be where we currently are.
What's your score prediction? Who will get the goals on Friday?
I'd be happy with an exciting 1-0 win for blues. Deeney to score to finish this section of the season on a positive.
Where do you reckon both sides will finish this season?
I think we'll both finish roughly where we are now. It's a very tight table this season.
Finally, where's the best place for an away fan to grab a pint in Birmingham?
Usually, nearest to the ground, The Cricketers welcomes away supporters. I would advise though to check prior as sometimes the police request them to not take in away fans. There are usually a lot of pubs in the city centre who would welcome away fans.
For anyone who may not be aware, what exactly is AccessiBlues?
AccessiBlues is a recognised BCFC supporters group that was formed at the start of the 2016 season. We are primarily focused on disabled supporters, but we also welcome any supporters who want our assistance at the club.
We are wholly run by volunteers and are funded by various sponsors and via individuals fundraising on our behalf. We also have public donations from people who see the positive work we undertake. We are registered as a charitable business/community group with HMRC and are registered with the Fundraising Regulator, Level Playing Field and the Football Supporter's Association (FSA).
