Birmingham vs Sheffield Wed prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-11-24 15:00.
Since Wayne Rooney was appointed as manager in mid-October, Birmingham City have plummeted down the table and picked up only one point from five games, although all of those matches came against teams now occupying positions in the top ten. Despite that, they have perhaps their best opportunity to turn their relegation form around when bottom of the table Sheffield Wednesday visit the West Midlands this weekend.
In their last home game, Rooney saw his side go 2-0 up against second-placed Ipswich Town and he will be looking for a similar performance in this match, just without conceding two late goals to draw. However, that could be easier said than done as the Blues have leaked 11 goals under the former England skipper, with at least one coming after the interval in each fixture.
A 4-0 home defeat to Millwall prior to the international break showed that Sheffield Wednesday have problems at the back as well, but it is in attack where their record has been most problematic with only seven league goals scored all season and just three on their travels. Those three came back in August which means that Owls fans have now endured over nine hours of away action without seeing the ball in the opposition’s net!
With only one win from five (L4), including four matches without scoring, it is fair to say that Danny Röhl has found his first managerial role a real struggle since arriving in Yorkshire last month. His side are already nine points from safety and, although they did win on their last trip to St Andrews in 2020, they will be up against it on Saturday as Wednesday have beaten Birmingham in only one of their last eight H2H battles (D3, L4).
Players to watch: Jay Stansfield has been heavily involved in three of Birmingham’s last four goals (G2, A1) and has found the net five times this season, each time scoring with his right foot. Michael Smith missed the last game but is Wednesday’ leading scorer in this campaign. He has an impressive goal conversion with three strikes from only nine shots.
Hot stat: Wednesday have not scored a second-half goal in any of their last 13 games (W1, D3, L9).