• Birmingham have lost three in four and slipped to 14th in the Championship

• Derby have managed just one win in five games but remain in the top half

• Recommended bet: Birmingham to win and both teams to score

Birmingham City welcome Derby County to St Andrew's on Boxing Day, aiming to earn three points after failing to win in four games.

The Rams, meanwhile, have won four of their last five matches on the road and know another victory could push them to within one position of the play-off places.

The latest Birmingham vs Derby odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Team news

Birmingham will be without Bright Osayi-Samuel, who is away at the Africa Cup of Nations, while fellow full-backs Ethan Laird and Alex Cochrane are sidelined with injuries.

Blues midfielder Tommy Doyle is suspended following his sending off at Sheffield United. Goalkeeper James Beadle has missed the last two matches with an ankle problem and so Ryan Allsop has deputised between the sticks.

Derby midfielder Lewis Travis is back in training after a calf injury but this clash might come too soon for a return to the starting XI.

Max Johnston and Owen Beck are out with hamstring problems, while David Ozoh has a thigh issue and top scorer Carlton Morris is out until February with a knee injury.

Centre-back Dion Sanderson is not eligible to face his parent club.

The stats

Birmingham have failed to keep a clean sheet in eight matches, last recording a shutout in a 4-0 win over Millwall in early November.

Derby have won four of their last five away games in the Championship, scoring 11 goals in the process.

The Blues are unbeaten in five home matches, winning four and drawing one at St Andrew's.

Derby have conceded four penalties this season, more than any other club in the Championship.

The Rams have won five of the last nine meetings between the sides, dating back to 2018.

The latest Birmingham vs Derby odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Prediction

Birmingham and Derby meet on Boxing Day at St Andrew's in what should be a fascinating encounter.

While the Blues have won four and drawn one of their last five matches at home in the Championship, Derby have been in top form on the road, earning 12 points from a possible 15.

Birmingham have some issues at full-back to contend with but head into the game as favourites and will be confident of halting the Rams' impressive away record.

The Blues' draw with Charlton is the only point Chris Davies' side have picked up in four matches and so the Birmingham manager will be eager to see his team get back to winning ways.

Before drawing a blank at Sheffield United, seven straight Birmingham matches had seen both teams score, while both sides found the net in nine of Derby's previous 10 games.

Backing the Blues to win and both clubs getting on the scoresheet could prove a smart bet.

Back Birmingham to win and both teams to score at 3/1 with LiveScore Bet

The latest Birmingham vs Derby odds are available on LiveScore Bet