Derby are in the bottom three after 1-0 home defeat to high-flying West Brom
Birmingham's unbeaten start was ended by Norwich on Wednesday
Recommended bet: Draw, under 2.5 goals and Jay Stansfield over 0.5 shots on target @ 7/1 with LiveScore Bet
Derby boss John Eustace faces old club Birmingham as the two Midlands sides go head-to-head in the Championship at Pride Park on Saturday lunchtime.
The Rams have been struggling in the early weeks of the campaign and the midweek 1-0 home defeat to West Brom has left them in the bottom three, with just one win from their first six games.
Blues were unbeaten in the league going into their trip to Norwich but the Canaries inflicted a 2-1 defeat on Chris Davies' side, meaning their solid start now looks a little less impressive with just seven points on the board so far.
Team news
Derby boss Eustace is still without Derry Murkin, Rhian Brewster, Craig Forsyth, Patrick Agyemang and Matt Clarke, while Carlton Morris and Lewis Travis are also sidelined.
Birmingham have a major injury concern over Demarai Gray, while Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Marc Leonard are still in the treatment room.
The latest Derby vs Birmingham odds are available on LiveScore Bet
The stats
Derby have won just one of their first six games, drawing once and losing four times.
Birmingham have also only picked up one win so far, although they have managed four draws and suffered just one defeat.
Blues' loss at Norwich in midweek ended their five-game unbeaten run on the road.
The Rams are yet to win at home this season, losing to West Brom and Swansea in the league and Lincoln in the EFL Cup, with their solitary point at Pride Park coming against Cardiff.
Derby boss Eustace managed hometown club Birmingham between July 2022 and October 2023.
The latest Derby vs Birmingham odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
Derby and Birmingham have both made less than satisfactory starts to the season, with the two Midlands clubs in the bottom half going into the weekend despite being talked up as at least play-off contenders over the summer.
Blues' unbeaten record went at Carrow Road in midweek and four draws so far shows while they are difficult to beat, they are also struggling to convert their chances and see off dogged opponents.
The Rams were unable to get anything off West Brom on Wednesday, despite the Baggies having Brayann Pereira sent off after 34 minutes, and they may have to settle for a point at the weekend.
A low-scoring game is also predicted, following last season's meetings which ended 1-0 to Derby at home and 1-1 at St Andrew's.
Derby have only hit five goals in their six league outings, while Blues have fared a little better on the goalscoring front with eight in six.
If there is to be a star man on Saturday, Jay Stansfield may be the one to step up for Birmingham.
Stansfield got his first goal of the season against Wolves last weekend and was lively in the defeat to Norwich, too, mustering two shots, one of which was on target.
The former Fulham man has had at least one shot on target in four different matches this season.
Score prediction: Derby 0-0 Birmingham
Back the draw, under 2.5 goals and Jay Stansfield over 0.5 shots on target at 7/1 with LiveScore Bet
