Birmingham vs Middlesbrough predictions: Vicente to help land St Andrew's Bet Builder
James Mason
Birmingham have collected 10 points from their opening seven Championship games
Middlesbrough are third in the table on 14 points
Recommended bet: Both teams to score, Will Lankshear anytime goalscorer & Carlos Vicente anytime goalscorer @ 16/1 with LiveScore Bet
Middlesbrough will be hoping to continue their impressive start to the Championship season when they head to the West Midlands to face Birmingham at St Andrew's on Saturday.
Boro missed the chance to move top as they were held to a 2-2 draw at Millwall on Tuesday, but that result did move them level on 14 points with table-toppers West Ham and second-placed Swansea.
As for Birmingham, they returned to winning ways at Derby on Saturday and will be hoping to build on what was just their second league victory of the campaign.
Team news
Patrick Roberts has missed Birmingham's last two matches due to injury and could miss out again after manager Chris Davies said the issue is "lingering on a bit".
Demarai Gray played no part in the win at Derby on Saturday because of illness and will need to be assessed.
Middlesbrough were without Adilson Malanda for the draw at Millwall on Tuesday due to a small issue but it remains unclear whether he will have recovered in time for this clash.
Alfie Jones also missed that draw and is expected to be absent for this trip to the West Midlands.
The latest Birmingham vs Middlesbrough odds are available on LiveScore Bet
The stats
Birmingham snapped a three-game run without a win with a 2-1 victory at Derby on Saturday.
Blues are unbeaten at home in the league since April (W3 D3).
Middlesbrough are on a five-match unbeaten in the Championship (W3 D2).
Both teams to score has landed in Birmingham's last seven games and in six of Middlesbrough's seven league fixtures.
Will Lankshear is Boro's top goalscorer with eight goals, with two of those coming in his last four appearances.
Carlos Vicente has netted in his last two outings, against Norwich and Derby.
The latest Birmingham vs Middlesbrough odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
Birmingham have been a hard team to beat this season, evidenced by just one loss in seven Championship games, and the same goes for Middlesbrough who have lost just once in the league.
Picking a winner is difficult and, therefore, the first leg of this bet builder is backing both teams to score, which landed in the two meetings between these clubs last season.
Blues have not kept a clean sheet in seven games while Boro have managed just one shutout in their last nine assignments, which suggests there will be goals at both ends at St Andrew's.
In the goalscorer market, it is hard not to side with Middlesbrough's top scorer Will Lankshear, who has eight goals to his name.
The summer arrival has scored four goals in his last five league matches and can punish a Birmingham defence who have not kept a clean sheet since mid-August.
In Blues' ranks, Carlos Vicente is in solid attacking form, netting in each of his last two appearances, and he looks like one of the hosts' best chances to grab a goal.
Score prediction: Birmingham 1-2 Middlesbrough
The latest Birmingham vs Middlesbrough odds are available on LiveScore Bet
