Sheffield Wed vs Birmingham prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2024-02-08 20:00.
A 4-0 Championship thumping at Huddersfield last weekend put a huge dent into Sheffield Wednesday’s survival hopes, with four goals conceded in 12 second half minutes prompting Owls boss Danny Röhl to admit his side had “lost their heads” after the first went in. Of course, Röhl insisted they’d keep fighting, but now eight points adrift of safety, there’s little cause for optimism at Hillsborough.
Winless in four Championship games (D1, L3), Wednesday have now conceded 4+ goals on four occasions this season, contributing to the fact they have the third-worst defence in the division. Combine that with the fact they’re the lowest scorers in the Championship, and it doesn’t paint a pretty picture as they bid to end their three-match winless home run (D2, L1).
Friday night’s opponents Birmingham aren’t enjoying their campaign much more and they sit just four points above the drop zone – albeit with a game in hand – ahead of their visit to Hillsborough. They’ll have been left deflated after last weekend’s late defeat at West Brom, but perhaps it wasn’t a great surprise as they’ve conceded 13 Championship goals after the 75th minute this season.
The Blues have won just one of their last eight league games (D3, L4), with only Blackburn picking up less points in that time, while only two teams have conceded more than the 16 Birmingham have in that period. Tony Mowbray’s side should take some inspiration at least from the fact they’ve won six of the last 11 H2Hs with Wednesday (D3, L2), and are unbeaten in their last four trips to Hillsborough (W2, D2).
Players to watch: Wednesday’s Barry Bannan has three bookings in his last four Championship games, each of which came in the first half. Birmingham’s deadline day signing Alex Pritchard provided an assist at Hillsborough earlier this season for Sunderland, in what was his third career assist against the Owls – who he has beaten five times in nine attempts (D2, L2).
Hot stat: Tony Mowbray has won two of his last three personal away games against Sheffield Wednesday, with his team on the day scoring eight goals and conceding none over those two victories.