Middlesbrough without a win in their last three Championship matches
Birmingham kicked off November in style with 4-0 home wins over Portsmouth and Millwall
Recommended bet: Correct score - 1-1
Middlesbrough set the early pace in this season's Championship, but they have had a difficult couple of weeks both on and off the pitch.
They needed late equalisers to draw 1-1 at home to Wrexham and away at Leicester either side of a 3-0 defeat at Watford last weekend.
Speculation that manager Rob Edwards is wanted by top-flight strugglers Wolves has unsettled Boro and Saturday's visitors Birmingham are buzzing after back-to-back 4-0 wins over Portsmouth and Millwall.
The latest Middlesbrough vs Birmingham odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Team news
Middlesbrough's Alfie Jones is suspended following his red card at Leicester on Tuesday, while Dael Fry and Alan Browne will be assessed.
Birmingham defender Jack Robinson has completed a three-match ban and he was an unused substitute in the midweek win over Millwall.
Patrick Roberts overcame a knock to start against the Lions, but Ethan Laird, Scott Wright, Lee Buchanan and Willum Willumsson remain sidelined.
The stats
Middlesbrough have drawn five of their last 10 matches in the Championship and have been trailing at half-time in four of their last six league games.
Only one of Middlesbrough's 14 league matches this season has produced over 3.5 goals.
Birmingham have won three of their last four games to nil, but have scored only four goals in seven away matches in the Championship this term.
Birmingham won their last two games by a 4-0 scoreline, with Seung-ho Paik opening the scoring in both of those victories.
The latest Middlesbrough vs Birmingham odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
Middlesbrough and Birmingham had contrasting results in the midweek round of Championship fixtures, as Boro drew 1-1 at Leicester and Blues thumped injury-hit Millwall 4-0.
The point at the King Power Stadium was a decent result for the Teessiders, who had Jones sent off in the 90th minute before fellow defender Luke Ayling scored their equaliser deep into injury-time.
Boro's form has cooled after a fast start to the campaign and they have won only two of their last eight league matches.
One of those victories was an impressive 2-1 home win over antepost title favourites Ipswich and Boro remain unbeaten at the Riverside Stadium, winning four and drawing two of their six games on their own patch.
The 1-1 draw, a winning bet in three of Boro's last eight matches, appeals in the correct-score market again.
Birmingham have boosted their confidence with a couple of wide-margin wins against Portsmouth and Millwall at St Andrew's, but their away record is patchy.
Last season's runaway League One champions have scored only four times in seven road fixtures on their return to the Championship.
They have lost four of those games to nil, including defeats at Coventry and Stoke – the only two clubs above Boro in the table – and drew 1-1 at Wrexham last month before a 1-0 loss at Bristol City.
Another tight, low-scoring game is expected.
