PREVIEW: BIRMINGHAM v REDCAR (KOC)

BIRMINGHAM host Championship KO Cup holders Redcar tonight (Wednesday) in their first appearance at Perry Barr since September 2019.

The Bears were clear winners on their last visit to the Second City with Erik Riss scoring a 15-point maximum on that occasion – but the German star is now making his debut for the Brummies.

The tie is to be resolved this week as the second leg takes place at the Media Prima Arena on Friday.

Brummies star Ashley Morris said: “We’ve got a strong team ourselves this year, so no matter who we come up against we’ll be feeling pretty confident we can go out there and get a result.

“We would love to come back to Birmingham and win our first home meeting and give the supporters the win they’ve waited so many months to see.

“That win against Berwick has spurred us all on even more as well. We started on the back foot but we never gave up.”

Bears manager Jade Mudgway said: “I’m looking forward to it and the lads are too, it’s a decent little track down there!

“I don’t think there will be much between the sides after the first leg. Erik and Bomber (Chris Harris) are the major threats, Erik is lightning out of the gate and I think both of them can be big hitters on Wednesday.

“I believe James (Sarjeant) and Jordan (Jenkins) can do well for us at Birmingham. James rode really well on Sunday, and I have been really impressed with Jordan who has started his Redcar career really well.”

BIRMINGHAM: Chris Harris, Valentin Grobauer, James Shanes, Ashley Morris, Erik Riss, Paco Castagna, Jack Thomas.
REDCAR: Charles Wright, Anders Rowe, Michael Palm Toft, Jordan Stewart, Jake Allen, James Sarjeant, Jordan Jenkins.