Birmingham vs Blackpool prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-04-21 14:00.
Birmingham City made it five unbeaten games across the last six rounds (W3, D2, L1) with a hard-fought 1-0 away victory over promotion-chasing Millwall in which the players “sweated blood for the team”, according to boss John Eustace. Vivid imagery aside, the Blues can’t be accused of packing up for their holidays early despite being all-but mathematically safe, but with no chance of crashing the top six.
There have been over five hours of home league play since Birmingham last conceded a goal (W2, D1), and they have an opportunity to register four straight clean sheets in Championship home games for the first time since 2012 with another here. A visit from League One-bound Blackpool could stimulate such a sequence as the Blues are unbeaten in home H2Hs since 2008 (W4, D3).
Interim Blackpool boss Steven Dobbie said that he “can’t fault the players and the fans” following their 2-0 defeat against West Brom last time out, yet that result leaves them on the precipice of relegation. The Seasiders have just three games, two of which are against play-off aspirants, to save their skin, and you only have to look at the league table to see why that would be one the greatest of escapes at this stage.
Playing away from home could just put another nail in Blackpool’s proverbial coffin as each of their last nine competitive road trips have ended in defeat. In fact, each of Blackpool’s last four away games saw them lose by multi-goal margins and rather unsurprisingly, their eight-game run of away league losses is the longest ongoing streak in the division.
Players to watch: Birmingham have lost two of their three home league games against current bottom-four sides, but the lone game they did win was thanks to Tahith Chong’s decisive strike in a 3-2 victory over Reading. Chong also scored the winner at QPR back in March. Looking to make a mark for Blackpool will be wideman Josh Bowler, although he has not won any of the last four games when making goal contributions (D2, L2).
Hot stat: Birmingham were leading at half-time in 11 of their 14 league wins this season (79%).