Birmingham vs Bristol City prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-12-28 19:45.
“Frustrating, nowhere near good enough, unacceptable”. That was Birmingham City boss Wayne Rooney’s assessment of his side’s 3-1 Boxing Day defeat at home to Stoke, and with growing calls for him to get the sack, this clash with Bristol City has a ‘win or bust’ feel to it. It’s easy to see why Blues fans are frustrated too, as their 13 league games under Rooney so far have yielded a measly nine points (W2, D3, L8).
The most damning indictment as far as Rooney is concerned probably comes in the fact his nine-point haul is half that of the total his predecessor John Eustace collected in his last 13 games in charge (18 – W5, D3, L5). That certainly fuels belief his position is becoming untenable, and having lost three of his four managerial H2Hs against Bristol City (W1), this could prove to be the final nail in his coffin.
The Robins will travel confident they can heap yet more misery on Rooney after their 4-1 victory at Watford on Boxing Day was arguably the most eye-catching result of the round. Not only did that thumping win secure a third-straight league victory, it also moved Bristol City to the fringes of the play-off places, and they could actually end the round in the top six with a win here if other results go their way.
It looks like new boss Liam Manning’s methods are finally yielding the desired results, but given that Watford win was their first on the road since early October, it may perhaps be too soon to suggest he’s eased their travelling woes. This promises to be as big a test as any to their travelling credentials, as they’ve worryingly lost seven of the last ten H2Hs held anywhere (W2, D1).
Players to watch: Expect a late showing from Birmingham’s Jordan James who has seen three of his four home goals this term arrive after the 70th minute. Bristol City’s Andreas Weimann netted his first of the season against Watford, the game’s last goal, but he opened the scoring when he last travelled to face a Rooney-managed side.
Hot streak: Bristol City have opened the scoring inside the opening 30 minutes in their last three league games.