• Birmingham have lost just one of their last six league games

• Stoke are without several key players due to injury, including their on-loan goalkeeper

• Recommended bet: Tie / Birmingham in Half Time / Full Time

After speculation increased over the future of boss Chris Davies earlier in the season, Birmingham have responded with a run that has seen them get back into the play-off battle in the Championship.

Blues won just one of their four fixtures in October but since then they have lost just four of their 16 league games, moving them to within five points of the play-offs.

Opponents Stoke are currently five places and three points ahead of them in the table, but their squad has been decimated by injury problems.

Mark Robins has described his squad as "paper thin" and "running on fumes" following the midweek 2-1 home defeat to Middlesbrough.

Team News

Birmingham are expected to name two new signings — August Priske and Ibrahim Osman — in their squad for the visit of the Potters.

Striker Priske has joined from Swedish club Djurgardens, in a deal reportedly worth £6million, while winger Osman has joined on loan from Brighton.

Blues have six loanees at present and with only five permitted in the matchday squad, one will have to sit out.

On-loan goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu is the latest injury victim for Stoke, with the Southampton shot-stopper out for six weeks having suffered an issue in training.

The visitors are already without key players Viktor Johansson, Robert Bozenik, Junior Tchamadeu, Sam Gallagher and Divin Mubama, while Bosun Lawal is suspended after picking up a red card against Middlesbrough.

The stats

Birmingham have lost just one of their 13 home league games so far this season.

Nobody in the top half of the Championship table has lost more games than Stoke (11).

Blues racked up 22 shots, with seven on target, in Tuesday’s 2-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday.

Stoke have the second-best defensive record in the second tier, conceding just 25 goals in 28 games.

Sorba Thomas is tied-fifth in the Championship assist stats, with the Stoke ace setting up six goals and scoring nine times.

The latest Birmingham vs Stoke odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Prediction

Stoke had not conceded a goal in 2026 prior to Wednesday’s defeat to Boro, despite a lengthy injury list.

Robins had no fit striker in midweek, with winger Lamine Cisse asked to play up top, with the Frenchman setting up a goal for Tomas Rigo.

Fatigue started to kick in during the second half and Boro took advantage, which could be a similar story on Saturday.

Stoke have been level at the break in three of their last four matches, while Birmingham needed two goals in the last seven minutes to see off the Owls.

Back Tie / Birmingham in Half Time / Full Time at 19/5 with LiveScore Bet.

The latest Birmingham vs Stoke odds are available on LiveScore Bet