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Match-night 4 Preview: Can the Birmingham Lions roar in Derby?
The AJ Bell National Badminton League is back after its Christmas Break and ready to kick off the New Year in style thisMonday (11 Jan) with 3 big fixtures taking place.
Here we preview
Team Derby v Birmingham Lions
– a fixture that will be broadcastlive on Sky Sports 2 from 7.30pm.
Having won 3-2 home and away on the pasttwo match-nights, the in form Birmingham Lions take their unbeaten record tothe home of the champions – Team Derby - and confidence is high within the Lions camp.
After a comprehensive 4-1 loss away atLoughborough Sport – a rerun of last season's Championship Finals - Team Derbywill be looking to bounce back to winning ways.They will take comfort from a home fixturein front of the Orange Army as they look to do it.
The champions have won 13 of 15 pointsat home but can Birmingham Lions be the first to walk away with a fixture win?
Both teams welcome back key players. Heather Olver makes her first AJ Bell NBLstart of the season for the Birmingham Lions after missing the past victorieschasing Rio 2016 Olympic qualification points. Olver is 1 of 3 changes for the Lions which also sees the return ofSwedish international Nico Ruponen . Ruponen takes up his usual Mixed Doubles slot but in a new pairing withnew signing Alida Chen .The Dutch juniorinternational makes her AJ Bell NBL international.
Team Derby also welcome back their own Swedish star. Amanda Hogstrom returns to the starting 8 inthe only change as Julia Mann keeps faith with the line up that lost inLoughborough.
Tiara Samuel makes way for Hogstrom, who will partner BenStawski in the Mixed Doubles.
Scottish rising star Alex Dunn continues to deputise forEngland number one Rajiv Ouseph who is competing in Asia. Andy Ellis will once again captain the teamand will hope to collect his first fixture win and return to winning way in themen's doubles alongside Chris Coles after last month's final point shoot outdefeat in Loughborough.
LOOK OUT FOR:
1. Birmingham Lions' Fontaine Chapman is chasing an sixthstraight AJ Bell NBL event win when shefaces the young talent of Grace King.
2. European circuit playing partners Nico Ruponen and AmandaHogstrom face each other across the net but will the familiarity help eitherSwede get the upper hand in a tight looking Mixed Doubles contest?
3. Team Derby's Chris Coles was yellow carded for antics oncourt in December as his run of 5 straight wins was ended in a last point shootout. But will that calm his passion andthat of his partner Andy Ellis boiling over on court?
Tickets are still available to catch all the action live at University of Derby Sports Centre on Monday night (from 7.30pm).
