• Southampton’s five-game winning run came to an end at Millwall

• Birmingham are a point outside the play-offs after two wins and a draw

• Recommended bet: Draw

Southampton host Birmingham at St Mary’s in the Championship on Saturday and will be aiming to bounce back after conceding a 97th-minute winner to Millwall at The Den last week.

The Blues are pushing for a place in the play-off spots heading into the busy festive period and sit eighth after earning seven points from their last three games.

The latest Southampton vs Birmingham odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Team news

Southampton forward Damion Downs is a doubt with a knock while Elias Jelert is out with a hip problem and defender Mads Roerslev is sidelined with a knee issue. Saints trio Samuel Edozie, Shea Charles and Ross Stewart are also unavailable.

Birmingham defender Lee Buchanan and winger Scott Wright are both out with knee problems while Willum Willumsson has a muscle injury.

The stats

Southampton have scored 15 goals in their last five Championship matches, winning four.

Birmingham have won just once away from home since the end of August - just eight of the Blues’ 28 points have come on the road.

There have been 19 goals scored in the last four meetings between the sides at St Mary's Stadium. The Saints have scored 12, winning three and losing one.

Birmingham have won only one of their last nine away matches down at Southampton, drawing twice and losing six, with the victory coming back in August 2008.

Saints’ tally of 15 goals in five league games is one more goal than they had managed to score in their previous 17 league games combined.

The latest Southampton vs Birmingham odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Prediction

Southampton will be eager to get back to winning ways after their run of four straight victories came to an end in crushing fashion last weekend.

The Saints have been triumphant in their last two games at St Mary’s, scoring a combined six goals, and know another home victory could help see them climb into the top half of the Championship table.

Birmingham have not travelled well since their return to the second tier, winning just two games on the road this season and taking just a single point from their last three away matches.

Southampton have been rejuvenated under Tonda Eckert following the dismissal of Will Still and have found their shooting boots with 15 goals scored in their last five matches.

Birmingham, however, have kept three clean sheets in their previous eight games, including a shutout away at Preston North End.

While it’s the Saints who are in the best form, the Blues have only lost three games since the end of September and with Southampton still recovering from a slow start, Birmingham should possess enough quality to hold on for a point down on the South coast.

Back the draw at 23/10 with LiveScore Bet

The latest Southampton vs Birmingham odds are available on LiveScore Bet