Derby v Birmingham: play-off push meets top-half bid | OneFootball

Derby County host Birmingham City in the Championship at Pride Park on Saturday, 21 March 2026, with the hosts eyeing the play-off picture and the visitors aiming to firm up a top half finish.

Derby County are eighth on 57 points after 38 games. Birmingham City sit 10th with 53. The reverse fixture finished 1-1 in December.

Derby have momentum from home wins over Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn before edging Portsmouth away last time out. Birmingham halted a three game slide by beating QPR and then drawing with Sheffield United.

The Rams are without defenders Danny Batth, Callum Elder and Max Johnston, plus goalkeeper Josh Vickers. Birmingham are missing Kai Wagner, Lee Buchanan and Alexander William Cochrane, trimming their defensive options.

Birmingham may look to control the ball, averaging 54% possession with 79.79% passing accuracy, and they send in plenty of open-play crosses, 619 so far. Derby could lean on width and an aerial threat, with 15 headed goals and a 24.82% cross accuracy. Key threats include Patrick Agyemang and Carlton Morris for Derby, and Marvin Ducksch and Jay Stansfield for Birmingham.

A win would lift Derby to 60 points and could pull them closer to the play-off places. Birmingham would move to 56 with victory and could climb the table to strengthen a top half push.