8 Facts About Birmingham City

1. Birmingham City won the League Cup for the second time under Alex McLeish in 2011.

2. Birmingham City reached the 2001 Football League Cup Final under Trevor Francis, whose successor as permanent manager, Steve Bruce, twice achieved promotion to the Premier League.

3. Birmingham City fans consider their main rivals to be Aston Villa, their nearest neighbours geographically, with whom they contest the Second City derby.

4. Birmingham City equalised in the last minute of normal time, but the match went to a penalty shoot-out which Liverpool won.

5. Birmingham City were the first football club to establish an option company.

6. Birmingham City fans will love Garry Monk's Aston Villa mind games.

7. Birmingham City boss revealed he and Smith have remained friends since they were team-mates at Sheffield Wednesday.

8. Birmingham City were founded as Small Heath Alliance in 1875, and from 1877 played their home games at Muntz Street.