Birmingham vs Coventry prediction, H2H and probable lineups - January 4, 2024
One of the fixtures of the 26th round in the Championship will take place on Monday at St Andrew's in Birmingham, where the local side Birmingham will host Coventry. Here’s my betting tip for this clash, offering solid chances for success.
Match preview
Birmingham enters this game in a very tough spot. The team is winless in their last seven matches: four losses and three draws. Their last victory dates back to December 1, when the Blues edged out Watford 2-1—goals from Seung-ho Paik and Demarai Gray sealed the win. Incidentally, Gray has managed to revive his career this season after a difficult spell at Saudi side Al-Ittifaq, but he will be unavailable against Coventry due to injury.
In the previous round, Birmingham suffered a painful 0-3 defeat to that same Watford, barely creating any attacking threat. Such results have put serious pressure on head coach Chris Davies. The squad has the potential to fight for much higher places, but they currently sit just 17th, a mere seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Coventry, on the other hand, have become one of the season’s true revelations. Under Frank Lampard, the team has posted impressive results: 15 wins in 25 matches and only three defeats. Thanks to this run, the Sky Blues are firmly on track for a Premier League return—a division they haven’t graced since the 2000/01 season.
However, Coventry have hit a slight dip lately—just two wins in their last seven outings, both narrow 1-0 victories over Bristol City and Swansea. In their most recent match, they drew 1-1 with Charlton. Nevertheless, Lampard and his charges can afford a few slip-ups, as their strong start has given them a comfortable cushion over their rivals.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Birmingham have conceded in eleven consecutive matches.
- Both teams have scored in eight of their last ten games.
- Coventry's last six matches have all featured fewer than three goals.
- Coventry scored first in five of their last six fixtures.
- In the last ten head-to-head encounters, Coventry hold the advantage: four wins, while Birmingham have won only twice, with four draws in the mix.
Probable lineups
- Birmingham: Beadle - Sampsted, Neumann, Robinson, Cochrane - Iwata, Paik, Willumsson - Roberts, Koumas, Furuhashi
- Coventry: Rushworth - Latibeaudiere, Thomas, Kitching - van Ewijk, Allen, Grimes, Kesler-Hayden - Eccles, Simms, Wright
Prediction
Coventry have not been playing the most attacking football lately. Frank Lampard’s side are pragmatic, often grinding out results with just one or two goals. Considering this, a high-scoring affair seems unlikely in the upcoming match, making a bet on under 3 goals a logical choice.
