BIRMINGHAM v PRESTON

Championship: St Andrew’s, 3pm

HARRY REDKNAPP has pleaded for patience after insisting Birmingham will be promotion challengers under him. A raft of new arrivals, including Jota and Sam Gallagher, have been unable to arrest the Blues’ poor start to the new campaign. They kick off against Preston today languishing in the bottom three with just four points. But Redknapp (above) said: “I know going forward Birmingham have a group of players that will be challenging for promotion this year, next year. “People are going to have to be a bit patient. The injuries make it difficult.”