Championship preview and odds: Birmingham City vs Cardiff City

Published on: 15/12/2015

Championship preview and odds: Birmingham City vs Cardiff City

December 18, 2015 19:45pm - St Andrews Stadium

Championship

Two teams hovering just outside the play-off zone will go head-to-head on Friday night when Birmingham City welcome Cardiff City to St Andrews Stadium in the Championship.

Three defeats in last four for Blues

Birmingham City halted a three-game losing run by holding Middlesbrough to a 0-0 draw at the Riverside last week. However, they still remain winless in their last eight games - a statistic that will concern boss Gary Rowett.

Despite their recent poor form, the Midlands club are still in touch with the play-off places thanks to a run of seven wins, three draws and two defeats in their first 12 games of the campaign. Perhaps the biggest concern for fans of the Blues will be the fact that they have failed to score at home since October 17 - a run that stretches back four games. Three of those games ended with defeat.

Cardiff City unbeaten in three

Seventh-ranked Cardiff have lost just two of their last 12 games in the Championship, having drawn six and won the other four. As a result, they remain well-placed to make a challenge for the play-offs with just one point separating them and sixth-ranked Ipswich Town.

The Bluebirds come into the current game week on the back of a 2-2 draw at home to Sheffield Wednesday in which they let slip a two-goal advantage. Prior to that they secured a 3-2 away win against Bolton Wanderers and another 2-2 draw at home to Burnley. Before netting three times at Bolton, Russell Slades men had failed to score in their four previous matches on the road.

Team news

Birmingham will have to make do without the injured quartet of Clayton Donaldson, David Cotterill, Paul Robinson and Koby Arthur.

Meanwhile, Cardiff are expected to field a full-strength squad on Friday night subject to no further injuries in their Tuesday night clash with Brentford.

Recent form (League)

Birmingham City: DLLLW

Cardiff City: DWDLW

Betting odds and tips

Birmingham have failed to score in their last four home games, while Cardiff have also failed to find the net if four of their last five away fixtures. The 0-0 draw can be backed at 15/2 with Bet365.

By Neil Morris

(Written prior to Tuesday nights matches)

Published on: 15/12/2015

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (15/12/2015 13:14:52) but are subject to change.