Birmingham vs West Brom prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-10-05 19:00.
Birmingham brought an end to a six-game winless run in all competitions with a 4-1 victory against Huddersfield in midweek, keeping in touch with the play-off spots at this early stage of the campaign. Boss John Eustace had asked his players to step up in front of goal prior to that clash, and they certainly did just that with three separate men on the scoresheet.
One thing that will concern Eustace is the lack of a clean sheet, with a 92nd minute consolation against denying them a shutout in midweek. Theyâll fancy their chances of correcting that in Fridayâs Midlands derby against West Brom, as the Blues have come out on top in all three of the most recent H2Hs with the Baggies, with two of those victories coming âto nilâ. And if those omens needed any further statistical encouragement, City remain unbeaten on home soil in the league this term (W3, D2).
Carlos CorberĂĄnâs side do at least head across the second city unbeaten in five having won their last two, and are also firmly in the mix for a play-off berth this season following two drab campaigns since relegation. Albion have lost only one of the five theyâve played in the Championship on their travels (W1, D3) and thumped high-flying Preston 4-0 at Deepdale last weekend.
This promises to be a stern test of the limits of their squad though, with this game serving as their third in under a week. With Saturday and Tuesdayâs games successfully negotiated, now comes the biggest challenge of them all for the Baggies, as they are winless in their last 11 Friday-held Championship away games (D3, L8), including a 2-0 defeat in this corresponding fixture last season!
Players to watch: Siriki DembĂ©lĂ© netted twice in midweek for the Blues – heâs opened the scoring in both his goalscoring appearances this term. John Swift, meanwhile, has five league goals already this term for the Baggies, finding the back of the net in two of the three most recent games heâs started, both in the opening 15 minutes.
Hot stat: Birmingham have conceded a joint-league low one home league goal this term before half time.