Birmingham vs Cardiff prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2024-04-09 18:45.
[p]Defeat at promotion-chasing Leicester on Saturday saw Birmingham drop into the Championship relegation zone, beginning this midweek round a point from safety after their seventh loss in the last nine (W1, D1). The Foxesâ late winner at the weekend didnât come as a great surprise given only one team in the division has conceded more goals in the final 15 minutes this season than the Bluesâ 19.[/p]
[p]If Gary Rowettâs men are to stay up, itâs likely their home form which will get them over the line, having picked up over 71% of their points so far this season at St Andrewâs, where each of their last six league games have been decided by a one-goal margin (W3, L3). They also beat Wednesdayâs opponents Cardiff 1-0 in the reverse fixture, though that was their only victory in the last ten league H2Hs (D3, L6).[/p]
[p]Erol Bulutâs Bluebirds are one of few teams in the Championship with little left to play for – highly unlikely to make the play-offs and some distance clear of the bottom three. Theyâve drawn the second-fewest games in the division (five), and having won four of their last six midweek away league games (L2), the omens look positive ahead of their trip to St Andrewâs, where theyâve scored 2+ goals in each of their last four visits (W3, D1).[/p]
[p]Despite drawing very few, the Welsh outfit typically win – or get beat – âto nilâ, with only 18 of their 41 league games so far this season seeing both teams score – the joint-third lowest tally across the Championship. Keeping in line with that, very rarely do Cardiff find a goal in both halves, with that only happening seven times in the league to date – also one of the leagueâs lower tallies.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Juninho Bacuna scored the winner in the reverse fixture, though that was the first time heâd beaten Cardiff in eight attempts (D2, L5), with his team on the day never scoring more than once. With ten goal involvements (G6, A4) this season, including scoring at St Andrewâs in this fixture last year, Perry Ng is usually involved when the Bluebirds score. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Playing against the narrative, seven of Birmingham boss Gary Rowettâs 14 personal H2Hs with Cardiff have ended in draws (W5, L2), the joint-most of any opponent heâs faced.[/p]