Brett Pitman, Freddie Sears and Jonathan Douglas return to the Blues starting line-up against Birmingham with top scorer Tom Lawrence and midfielder Emyr Huws both missing out.

Toumani Diagouraga drops to the bench, while Tommy Smith, who only arrived back from New Zealand duty yesterday afternoon, is also left out of the 18.

The Blues, with manager Mick McCarthy appearing to have gone back to his tried and trusted players from last season and earlier in this campaign, look set to switch to a 4-4-2 system with Jordan Spence and Jonas Knudsen the full-backs, skipper Luke Chambers and Christophe Berra the central defenders, Cole Skuse and Douglas at the centre of midfield with Grant Ward likely to be on the right and Freddie Sears on the left and Brett Pitman and David McGoldrick up front.

Town: Bialkowski, Spence, Chambers (c), Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Douglas, Ward, Sears, McGoldrick, Pitman. Subs: Gerken, Taylor, Bru, Rowe, Diagouraga, Samuel.

Birmingham: Kuszczak, Nsue, Grounds, Robinson (c), Shotton, Kieftenbeld, Tesche, Gardner, Jutkiewicz, Davis, Bielik. Subs: Legzdins, Gleeson, Donaldson, Adams, Frei, Dacres-Cogley, Keita. Referee: Andy Madley (West Yorkshire).

Photo: TWTD

Kropotkin123 added 14:25 - Apr 1 *rolls eyes*
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vanmunt added 14:25 - Apr 1 Different Class Dougie Mick, April fools ends at 12.00..
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Superblue95 added 14:26 - Apr 1 Skuse and Douglas? Hahahaha McCarthy has lost his final marble
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muccletonjoe added 14:26 - Apr 1 McCarthy get out of this club. Dont turn around dont look back dont tell me how you have done a great job . Just go.
14

jas0999 added 14:27 - Apr 1 It's a team capable of winning this game, but personally I don't think Douglas is a good selection.
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Superblue95 added 14:27 - Apr 1 Genuinely thought we would get the win we desperately needed today. I've now lost all confidence in that happening
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Daleyitfc added 14:29 - Apr 1 If anyone was in any doubt as to how much contempt McCarthy has for the fans, today's selection answers that. I hope Douglas is booed every time he touches the ball ; that he storms off the pitch in a strop in protest at his treatment ; and that McCarthy and Evans p1ss off out of the club with him. Disgraceful.
11

TimmyH added 14:29 - Apr 1 Good god!!!!!!!!!!!!!...be prepared for another dire performance, I bet a few supporters on their way to PR have done an about turn.
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shortmarine1969 added 14:30 - Apr 1 WHAT UTTER TRIPE..!! MM just do one , that is dire..Douglas and Skuse in a not far off must win game.
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groundhog added 14:30 - Apr 1 Last one out turn the lights off.
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frantblue added 14:32 - Apr 1 Is this an April Fool from the guys at TWTD ?!!!
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HALLSJ added 14:32 - Apr 1 What's the problem with Huws and Lawrence why aren't they in
5

sw20tractor added 14:33 - Apr 1 Oh dear. You couldn't pay me to watch the town at the moment. Depressing
5

Bergholtblue added 14:34 - Apr 1 Huws and Lawrence not even on the bench. Please tell me that they are injured and that MM doesn't really think that this is his best team!
2

Bergholtblue added 14:35 - Apr 1 Was in two minds about going today. Glad I stopped at home to do the garden. Won't even listen in on the radio.
2

jutever added 14:36 - Apr 1 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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christiand added 14:36 - Apr 1 What a selection. Just hoping the lack of pace and crab like movement in midfield will make an impact. Think Skuse and Douglas run at the same pace as those 50+ types that play walking football. MM will get all he deserves if we lose this today. Just imagine if we win, Douglas will have cemented his place for the Wigan game. How is he anywhere near the starting XI? How many of MM's proper blokes are playing today: Chambers, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse and Douglas. A lot these need dropping, they can play poorly and still guarantee selection! How is he getting away with it?

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martin587 added 14:37 - Apr 1 Nowhere to be seen for five weeks then he appears.MM you really know how to insult the Town supporters.Just got to the ground when I heard this,wish I had stayed at home.😡
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iaintaylorx added 14:38 - Apr 1 Surely this is an April fools! He has been nowhere near the squad lately and it comes to a massive 6 pointer today, so he announces this? We could be - if results go their way - be TWO points above the drop after today... I was tempted to go to today's game, but £40 for a ticket, plus £15 fuel, I'm glad I thought otherwise. The quicker this idiot leaves, the better!!

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jabberjackson added 14:38 - Apr 1 Bell end
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warktheline added 14:42 - Apr 1 As I've been saying, McCarthy would revert back to type ! Oh dear, 442 is back and so is 'dead legs' Douglas!
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HALLSJ added 14:47 - Apr 1 Beggars belief; from the potteries I thought I was seeing things when I saw this OMG
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BlueArrow added 14:50 - Apr 1 You couldn't make it up #
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BlueArrow added 14:52 - Apr 1 I'm gonna call MM Atlantic swimmer from now on........ always out of his depth
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Charlie_pl_baxter added 14:54 - Apr 1 Just imagining Milne speaking to Mick last night : "Remember this is a must win game," Mick: "Message received I'll make sure we don't lose this one, Dougie will see us right", Milne: "What part of must-win do you not understand."
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