Birmingham vs Plymouth prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-08-25 14:00.
They’ve taken seven of a possible nine points as underdogs following a 2-0 win at Bristol City, and now it’s Birmingham City’s turn to bear the weight of expectations when welcoming newcomers Plymouth Argyle back to St Andrew’s in a first meeting since the visitors eliminated them from the 2021/22 FA Cup in extra time (1-0). Now amid their most profitable start to a Championship season in several years, perhaps the success of new minority owner Tom Brady is already rubbing onto the group!
It may take a bit longer yet to get some optimism out of the long-time fans who have endured seven consecutive bottom-half finishes, whilst that group would be first to point to Birmingham’s struggles last Championship season against the cabal of newly promoted clubs (W1, D1, L4). That could be part of manager John Eustace’s thinking when he promises a “level-headed” approach to the next month in the face of some concerning injury issues.
A stoppage-time goal from Scotland international Che Adams cruelly brought Plymouth’s unbeaten 2023/24 to an end, and though their boss Steven Schumacher was shattered by the 2-1 loss to Southampton, he proudly and confidently predicted that his opponents may not come across a more difficult game all season long. They’re already ahead of where they were after three rounds of their two previous seasons at this level, so there’s reason to be optimistic.
This will be their second away trip of this Championship campaign after a plucky 0-0 draw at Watford, and more recently Schumacher boasted that his side likes to “never give in, sit back” or “accept a defeat”. That was especially true away from home last season, where they collected more league points (W8, D3, L6) than any other League One club after conceding the opening goal, which could be crucial given Birmingham have scored first in all four competitive matches this season.
Players to watch: Veteran Lukas Jutkiewicz, now 34, may get some more minutes this round after scoring goals off the bench in his last two cameos, whilst Plymouth’s Ryan Hardie could make his own late impact given his last seven competitive goals – two of which were in this Championship season – came after half-time.
Hot streak: Birmingham’s last eight competitive wins were all accompanied by a clean sheet.