Birmingham City drop exciting 10-word update ahead of Oxford United | OneFootball

St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park is set to be bouncing once again

Birmingham City supporters are set to enjoy yet another electric atmosphere at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park for the visit of Oxford United on Saturday afternoon, with the club confirming a sell-out crowd in B9.

Excitement levels haven't been as high as they currently are in this part of the Second City for many years, with Chris Davies' side expected by many to take the Championship by storm as the campaign progresses further.

After smashing all kinds of records during a solitary season in League One, Blues' squad has undergone yet another exciting overhaul, with statement additions such as Kyogo Furuhashi, Tommy Doyle and the returning Demarai Gray already making an instant impact in what has been an unbeaten start across all competitions thus far.

Birmingham City confirm sell-out crowd at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park for Oxford United encounter

Bluenoses were able to showcase the intimidating cauldron of noise that will be on display throughout the next eight months of the season on opening night during a heated 1-1 draw against expected promotion rivals Ipswich Town, before over 7,000 away supporters oversaw a dramatic comeback victory against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park last weekend.

Unsurprisingly, the famous stadium, which has continuously been packed to the rafters since all four stands became fully open once again last year, is set for yet another buoyant home atmosphere against the U's and the returning Gary Rowett, who made over 100 appearances for Birmingham as a player as well as managing the club in two contrasting sets of circumstances.

Blues' official X account also added to the excitement with a simple, yet effective 10-word message to supporters, reading: "St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park. Saturday. Sold out. Can't wait."

Those travelling up the M40 have also played their part, with Oxford confirming two weeks ago that U's supporters had snapped up all 2,003 tickets on offer in the corner of the Gill Merrick Stand for what is their first visit to St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park since August 2016 in an EFL Cup tie ending 1-0 to the visitors, with the last league meeting in B9 ending in the same scoreline back in November 1998.

Although many would argue the league table counts for very little at this stage, Blues are currently sixth after taking four points from six available, whilst Rowett's side are one of six teams yet to get a point on the board having lost narrowly to Portsmouth and Hull City.

Chris Davies will hope to preserve unbeaten league home record as Birmingham City manager

It will come as little surprise that Birmingham are viewed as the favourites for this particular match-up, although Oxford are capable of causing Davies' side several problems on the break and in physical battles.

However, Blues have made their home turf a fortress under Davies, who is yet to lose a league encounter in B9, winning 19 and drawing five of 24 games played in League One or the Championship so far, with the club also unbeaten in that regard since a 1-0 defeat to Cardiff City in April 2024.

Once again, the 40-year-old has sent out a message to his players and supporters about using a packed-out stadium to their advantage in his pre-match press conference.

"It's not about thinking or feeling or saying what the game should look like, it's about doing it on the pitch. We have to really try to put them under pressure, use St. Andrew’s, and use our home advantage, which is always critical for us, but expect a really tough match," he said.

"We know what St. Andrew’s is like when it gets going. And we have to give them (the fans) that with how we play. If we play like that, then the crowd will follow, and we can make it really difficult for the opposition."