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Etheridge, Birmingham fight for survival in English league

Sports

Etheridge, Birmingham fight for survival in English league

By Jonas Terrado

Birmingham City goalkeeper Neil Etheridge (Photo from Birmingham City FC)

Neil Etheridge is looking to sustain his recent form in order to prevent Birmingham City from being relegated from the English Football League Championship.

Despite being in 18th place and six points clear of the relegation zone, Etheridge and the Blues must stay on their toes in order to stay in the second-tier league of the English football system.

The bottom three clubs in the 24-team league after the season will be relegated to the EFL League One.

Birmingham City produced 45 points through 41 matches, one above 20th place Huddersfield and two off Derby County which sits 21st.

In 22nd spot is Rotherham with 39 points with two matches in hand, followed by Sheffield Wednesday (35 points) and bottom-feeder Wycombe (33 points).

A win in Sunday’s away match against Rotherham could enhance Birmingham’s chances of staying away from the relegation zone.

Birmingham’s other fixtures are against Nottingham Forest on April 22, Derby County on April 24, Etheridge’s old club Cardiff City on May 1 and Blackburn Rovers on May 8.

The Blues have stayed unbeaten this month, starting with 1-0 victory over Swansea last April 1.

Etheridge also helped Birmingham force fourth-placer Brentford to a scoreless draw six days later before Lukas Jutkiewicz scored all of the goals in the 2-0 victory over 12th-running Stoke City last Saturday, April 10.

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