Derby – Birmingham

Derby’s home loss 1‑2 to Birmingham left the Rams stuck in 22nd place with just four points from eight games, their sole win and draw unable to offset five defeats and a 6‑13 goal deficit. Birmingham, meanwhile, climbed to ninth, bolstering their tally to ten points after two victories and four draws, their goal difference now a modest +1 at 10‑9. The result also tipped the head‑to‑head balance this season, giving Birmingham the only win in their two meetings, while Derby has yet to claim a point against them. With the gap widening, Derby must urgently turn their form around to avoid the relegation zone, whereas Birmingham can look to consolidate their mid‑table push.