Derby County are in danger of losing touch with the teams above them if they don't return to winning ways soon, making Boxing Day's match against Birmingham City at St Andrew's a crucial encounter for the Rams.

The former league leaders are still only three points off the pace, but they will wary of falling into a similar slump that has already seen the likes of Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers slide down the table.

Derby have won just one of their last five matches in all competitions and picked up only four points from the last 12 available in the league.

Their exit from the League Cup at the hands of Chelsea was followed by a disappointing draw at home to Norwich City on Saturday, with Steven Whittaker netting an 89th-minute equaliser for the Canaries.

The recent defeat to fellow promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough made it back-to-back away losses for the Rams and three in their last four, but their record on the road is still decent this season, with only two teams picking up more points on their travels.

They have not lost three away games in a row for more than two years, so will be eager to avoid that fate and potentially drop into the final playoff place on Friday.

Johnny Russell was once again on the scoresheet against Norwich and should continue in the starting lineup for this match, while Will Hughes and Simon Dawkins are both pushing for starts.

There will be no Jake Buxton again, however, as he continues to serve his suspension having been sent off against Chelsea.

Birmingham will certainly feel that they are playing Steve McClaren's side at a good time, with their own form being in stark contrast to Derby's recent dip.

The Blues have now won four of their last five games and have only been beaten once in eight matches under Gary Rowett, although that defeat was a particularly disappointing one to Blackpool.

They have bounced back from that setback well, though, hammering Reading 6-1 in their last home outing before David Cotterill's goal gave them a 1-0 win away to Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

Having been dreadful at St Andrew's under Lee Clark, Birmingham remain unbeaten at home under Rowett, picking up 10 points from a possible 12 so far.

That has helped to lift them up to 15th in the table, and fans are beginning to look up rather than over their shoulders for the first time in a long time.

The hosts have no new injury concerns for this match, with Andrew Shinnie fit to play and Jonathan Spector returning to training having been sidelined since the beginning of October.

Birmingham:

Recent form: DWWLWW

Possible starting lineup: Randolph; Caddis, Morrison, Robinson, Grounds; Davis, Gleeson, Cotterill, Shinnie, Gray; Donaldson

Derby:

Form in Championship: WWLWLD
Form in all competitions: WLWLLD

Possible starting lineup: Grant; Christie, Keogh, Shotton, Forsyth; Hughes, Mascarell, Bryson; Russell, Martin, Dawkins

Sports Mole says: 1-2