In which direction will 2022 take these clubs?published at 13:55 Greenwich Mean Time 2 January 2022
Birmingham v QPR (14:00 GMT)
The start of a new year, but two teams enjoying a season of contrasting fortunes.
2021 was a big leap forward for QPR and Mark Warburton, moving from 19th at the turn of last year to seventh now, with lots of optimism amongst supporters for a real play-off push in the second half of the season.
Injury time winners in their last two away games, at Derby and Bristol City on Thursday night, certainly help and a draw or win this afternoon would put them back in the top six.
As for Birmingham, they have had their last two games postponed because of Covid, but they were hammered 4-0 at Blackburn in their last match on 18 December.
Every new year begins with the same wish for Blues fans, namely one of avoiding their seemingly customary battle to avoid relegation. As things stand, they are six points clear of the bottom three but have won only one of their last seven.