📊 Form Guide

Birmingham City

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Birmingham City will be hoping to bounce back here following the 2-1 Championship defeat in their last game at the hands of Leicester City.

In that match, Birmingham City had 32% possession and 11 shots at goal with 5 on target. The only player to score for Birmingham City was Jay Stansfield (45'). On the other side, Leicester City had 17 shots on goal with 9 on target. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (28') and Stephy Mavididi (87') scored for Leicester City.

Birmingham City have been quite ineffective in attack of late. Their goals record stands at just 3 vs opponents during the course of their last 6 matches. In those games, Birmingham City have also seen the number of goals against them total 6. That sort of pattern won’t necessarily follow through here, however.

Cardiff City

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Following on from being defeated in their last game at the hands of Hull City in Championship action, Cardiff City and their travelling fans will hope for a better result here.

In that match, Cardiff City had 44% possession and 13 shots at goal with 4 on target. The only player to score for Cardiff City was Karlan Ahearne-Grant (57'). For their opponents, Hull City got 11 attempts on goal with 6 on target. Fábio Carvalho (32', 44') and Jaden Philogene (59') scored for Hull City.

Erol Bulut's Cardiff City have slotted home 6 times in the course of their most recent six matches. The total of goals that they have conceded during that period adds up to 6.

Ahead of this clash, Cardiff City are undefeated by Birmingham City when they have played them away from home in the previous 4 league games. An impressive run.

👥 Head to head

Checking on their prior head-to-head clashes dating back to 11/12/2021 shows us that Birmingham City have won 1 of these and Cardiff City 3, with the number of drawn games being 2.

In all, 14 goals were scored between the two sides in these games, with 5 of them for The Blues and 9 netted by The Bluebirds. This gives an average number of goals per game equal to 2.33.

The previous league clash featuring the two was Championship match day 21 on 13/12/2023 which finished with the scoreline of Cardiff City 0-1 Birmingham City.

On that occasion, Cardiff City managed 56% possession and 11 shots on goal with 4 on target.

Birmingham City had 11 shots on goal with 5 on target. Juninho Bacuna (45') scored.

The match was refereed by Stephen Martin.

🗞️ Team News: Birmingham City

There’s just the sole fitness concern for the Birmingham City boss Gary Rowett to be concerned about from an otherwise fully-primed set of players. Alfie Chang (Knee injury) won’t play.

We think that The Blues will possibly use the 4-2-3-1 formation for the game featuring John Ruddy, Ethan Laird, Emanuel Aiwu, Dion Sanderson, Lee Buchanan, Seung-Ho Paik, Krystian Bielik, Koji Miyoshi, Jordan James, Juninho Bacuna and Jay Stansfield.

📰 Team News: Cardiff City

Thanks to a largely healthy squad, there is only the lone fitness issue for the Cardiff City boss Erol Bulut to be concerned about. Mark McGuinness (unknown injury) won’t be playing here.

We reckon that The Bluebirds seem most likely to begin the game with a 4-4-2 system by sending out Ethan Horvath, Perry Ng, Nathaniel Phillips, Dimitrios Goutas, Jamilu Collins, Josh Bowler, Manolis Siopis, Joe Ralls, Karlan Grant, Aaron Ramsey and Yakou Meite.

🧠 Prediction

We’re of the view that Cardiff City have it in them to score a goal against this Birmingham City side, although it is unlikely to be as many as the goals that they could concede.

Our selection here is for a narrow 2-1 victory for Birmingham City when all is said and done. There shouldn’t be much in it, either way.

Our expert partners are tipping under 3.5 goals for this match. Check out their VIP predictions here.

Peter Guest, 18:10 10/04/2024