Birmingham vs Cardiff predictions: Home relief for Blues

Aidan Perkins

Spotlight

Gary Rowett recently returned to the Birmingham dugout on an interim basis

- Birmingham are in the relegation zone
- Cardiff sit 11th, 11 points off top six
- Recommended bet: Birmingham

Birmingham’s bid to avoid relegation from the Championship ramps up with a big home clash this midweek against Cardiff.

Blues slipped into the bottom three after another tough late defeat at title-chasing Leicester on Saturday.

Now they now must rouse themselves to take on Cardiff, who are safe in mid-table.

It is likely to be another nerve-racking end to the campaign for Birmingham, but they can boost their chances of preserving their Championship status with an important home win.

Team news

Lukas Jutkiewicz and Marc Roberts remain absent for the home side due to injury, while Oliver Burke is also a doubt to face the Bluebirds.

Manchester City loanee Josh Wilson-Esbrand is a major doubt for Cardiff after he suffered a hamstring injury against Hull at the weekend.

Ryan Wintle is expected to be ruled out for the visitors too, while Callum O'Dowda, Rubin Colwill, Kion Etete, Jak Alnwick and Mark McGuinness remain on the sidelines.

The latest Birmingham vs Cardiff odds are available on LiveScore Bet

The stats

Birmingham won the reverse fixture in the Welsh capital 1-0 in December.

Cardiff are 11 points off the play-off places, but 14 points clear of the relegation zone.

Birmingham have won just one of their last nine league games.

Cardiff have won just two of their last five matches.

Cardiff boss Erol Bulut has seen his side lose three of their last four Championship matches.

Prediction

Birmingham competed commendably at Leicester for large parts at the weekend and were only minutes away from picking up an unexpected point.

They must now forget that disappointment and go again against Cardiff, for whom there is much less on the line.

The visitors are 11 points off the top six currently, which is too big a gap to bridge at this late stage, so the play-offs are out of reach and Erol Bulut's side are also safe from the drop.

That should play into the hosts' hands as they go in search of a vital win at what will be a fired up St Andrew's.

Blues’ form in front of their own fans overall this season has been much better than when on their travels as they have managed eight wins on home soil and they secured an important 1-0 victory over Preston on their most recent outing at St Andrew's.

Gary Rowett has inherited a difficult task on his return to the club on an interim basis as boss, with Tony Mowbray absent through illness, but Blues are taken to edge a tight clash.

Back Birmingham to win at 17/20 with LiveScore Bet.