Steven Schumacher takes charge of his first game at the Toughsheet Community Stadium as Wanderers host Crawley Town.

Schumacher has had a full week on the training pitch with his new squad following last weekend’s late defeat at Reading.

A positive result could see the Whites climb back into the play-off places depending on results elsewhere in the division.

Team news

Ricardo Santos will not be involved this weekend. The towering defender has had an injection and Wanderers hope to have him back on the grass at some point next week.

George Thomason is also unavailable as the skipper serves the first of a two-match ban for reaching 10 yellow cards.

However, Jay Matete is back available after serving his three-game ban for violent conduct against Charlton.

Carlos Mendes Gomes is sidelined after picking up a knock in training, while Kyle Dempsey is a long-term absentee.

There have been a “couple of niggles and illnesses” in the opposition camp but no major injury concerns.

Opposition lowdown

Crawley currently find themselves in the relegation zone, although they have at least one game in hand on the sides around them.

Rob Elliot’s side were denied a point against Wrexham last weekend after Elliot Lee nodded home the winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

Crawley have won one of their last nine matches in the league and sit six points from safety at this stage.

Despite their league position, only Birmingham have higher average possession figures than Saturday’s opponents this season.

Head-to-head

Wanderers have only faced Crawley four times in competitive matches, with a record of two wins and two defeats.

The Whites ran out 2-0 winners at the Broadfield Stadium earlier this season thanks to goals from Kyle Dempsey and John McAtee either side of half time.

Crawley won on their last trip to Bolton in January 2021, with George Francomb getting the decisive goal in the League Two fixture. Reiss Greenidge was shown a late red card that day.

Predicted line-up

(Image: buildlineup.com)