Birmingham vs Preston prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-01-20 15:00.
A rocky end to 2022 has unfortunately turned into a tumultuous start to the new year for Birmingham City, whose four Championship games in that time have all ended in defeat. Their defensive vulnerabilities will be at the forefront of manager John Eustaceâs mind as despite a comeback 2-1 win over Forest Green in midweek FA Cup action lifting the mood, his troops have kept only one clean sheet in their last ten outings.
The Blues return to St. Andrewâs having won only once in their last six home league matches (D2, L3), making their six-point cushion to the bottom-three seem slender. They can take inspiration from their 1-0 win earlier in the season over Preston however, as they seek their first league-double over their visitors since the 2000/01 season.
The Lilywhites will no doubt have something to say about that, drawing their own confidence having kept three consecutive clean sheets away to Birmingham (W2, D1). Shut-outs have been hard to come by for Ryan Loweâs troops recently though, with their 4-0 thumping at the hands of Norwich last time out meaning theyâve now conceded in eight of their last nine matches (W4, L5), so we might see a goal fest this time around.
Preston havenât been in a sharing mood of late as theyâve seemed to have adopted an âall or nothingâ mantra, with none of their last 17 matches ending in a draw (W9, L8). Three of those wins have come in their last four games on the road (L1), which has contributed to only the leagueâs top-two, Sheffield United (27) and Burnley (25), accumulating more points away from home than Prestonâs 24 this league campaign.
Players to watch: Birmingham top-scorer Scott Hogan has netted their opener in all six of his goalscoring outings this season. Though Preston will be hoping lifelong servant and captain Alan Browne can find his range here, considering theyâve lost only once in the last 17 games heâs found the net for his club (W12, D4).
Hot stat: No Championship team has won as many games when starting as the betting outsider than Prestonâs nine this season.