Birmingham vs Wigan prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2022-08-19 14:00.
A return of five points after four league games is a respectable total for a Birmingham City side who were seemingly in ownership turmoil coming into the season. While the takeover of the club is still not yet resolved, results at St Andrews are at least providing some comfort to the Birmingham faithful, with their side remaining unbeaten in the league on home turf this season (W1, D1).
Leam Richardson’s Wigan are the next visitors to Small Heath, but despite the Latics coming up from League One, Birmingham won’t underestimate the size of the challenge, given the Blues have beaten Wigan just once in the last five home H2Hs (D1, L3). Birmingham boss John Eustace will hope to change that record, but his 100% losing Championship run in home H2Hs against Wigan from his playing days indicates it may not be straightforward.
Wigan remain winless in the Championship this season, yet also remain unbeaten, with three successive stalemates extending their remarkable second-tier drawing run to five matches! Tipping the balance and turning those draws into wins is proving problematic for Wigan, and Richardson will hope that a week off, after their midweek visit to Coventry was postponed due to an unplayable surface, has not distracted their preparations for this game.
Latics fans will have fond memories of St Andrews, as they won 3-2 on their last visit to end a 14-match winless run of Championship away games (D5, L9)! Wigan’s winless second-tier away run may only stand at four games at the moment (D3, L1), but Richardson will undoubtedly want to put a win on the board to avoid becoming the first Wigan manager in history to have not won a Championship match four games into a season.
Players to watch: Birmingham’s Scott Hogan enjoys facing Wigan, with three goals in four personal H2Hs, whilst Wigan’s Will Keane likes to have the final say on proceedings, scoring the game’s last goal in three of his previous four goalscoring appearances.
Hot streak: Both teams have scored in five straight Birmingham Championship home games.