Birmingham vs Middlesbrough predictions: Boro to boost play-off hopes

- Birmingham have collected just one point from the last 12 on offer
- Middlesbrough are on a two-game winning run
- Recommended bet: Middlesbrough to win

Middlesbrough will be looking to edge closer to the Championship play-off positions when they make the trip to St Andrew's to face a Birmingham side embroiled in a relegation battle.

Back-to-back wins for Boro have left them eight points adrift of sixth-placed Norwich and a third consecutive victory for Michael Carrick's men will see the gap cut to five points.

As for the Blues, they are just one place and a point above the bottom three and are finding life difficult under temporary boss Mark Venus, who has failed to win any of his four matches in charge.

Team news

Birmingham are without captain Dion Sanderson, who serves the final match of his three-game suspension, while Krystian Bielik remains sidelined with a groin issue that is expected to keep him out until after the upcoming international break.

Alfie Chang is a long-term absentee for the Blues after suffering an ACL injury, with a summer return pencilled in.

The Teessiders are again without the services of Josh Coburn, who is sidelined until after the international break, while Hayden Hackney is out with a knee problem.

Alex Bangura, Dael Fry and Darragh Lenihan are also in the treatment room.

The stats

Birmingham have failed to win any of their four games since Venus was placed in temporary charge, suffering defeats to Ipswich, Southampton and Millwall and drawing with Hull.

The Blues have kept just one clean sheet in their last 14 games in all competitions and have conceded 57 goals in the Championship, the joint-seventh worst defensive record in the division.

Middlesbrough have won their last two assignments, beating Norwich and QPR, while their tally of 26 points on the road is the sixth-best in the league.

Boro have won on their last three trips to St Andrew's, triumphing 4-1, 2-0 and 3-1.

Prediction

Birmingham are missing the presence of manager Tony Mowbray in the dugout and his temporary replacement, assistant Venus, has collected just one point from his four matches at the helm.

The Blues are one of several teams battling against the drop and their relegation fears could be increased at the hands of Middlesbrough, who are making a dart for the play-offs.

Eight points is the gap to sixth-place Norwich, but a victory at St Andrew's would see that deficit reduced and Carrick's men look to have some more winnable matches coming up, as they face Blackburn, Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea.

Boro have a fantastic record at Birmingham, winning five of their last six trips, and they have found some much-needed form in recent weeks to boost their top-six hopes.

Back Middlesbrough to win at 11/8 with LiveScore Bet

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