Bristol City VS Birmingham City Match Prediction
2020-02-07
19:45:00
Bristol City
VS
Birmingham City
Our Prediction Tip
Bristol City will win this match.
2020-02-0719:45:00 Bristol City will win this match.
This season’s reverse fixture ended in a 1-1 draw at St. Andrew’s, which means Bristol City’s two league wins in 2018 – across two seasons – remain their only victories in this fixture since 1993. Birmingham won 2-1 last time they met in Bristol, but this season’s fixture saw Tommy Rowe’s late equaliser cancel out Lukas Jutkiewicz’s opener.
Here are the results of their last five competitive matches:
Aug 10, 2019: Birmingham City 1-1 Bristol City
Feb 26, 2019: Bristol City 1-2 Birmingham City
Dec 08, 2018: Birmingham City 0-1 Bristol City
Apr 10, 2018: Bristol City 3-1 Birmingham City
Aug 12, 2017: Birmingham City 2-1 Bristol City
Birmingham are enjoying their own unbeaten run at the moment, but Bristol City are higher in the table and have won four in a row without conceding.
Lee Johnson’s side are right back on track and, for a few hours at least, could move third in the table just two points behind Leeds United.
It is a huge opportunity for the home team, though they will need to improve their recent record in this fixture if they are to take advantage of it.
Birmingham have bolstered their squad with the addition of Scott Hogan – who scored on his debut – up front too.
But Bristol City also strengthened at the end of the transfer window, and the loan acquisitions of Marcus Henriksen and Filip Benkovic provide more solidity at the base of the midfield and in defence.
The latter arrives with Champions League experience and was part of Celtic’s success in Scotland last season too.
With extra defensive solidity, they will be keen to add a fifth consecutive clean sheet on Friday night and, if they do, the likes of Famara Diekhiou and in-form Jamie Paterson, along with new signing Nahki Wells, have all showed what they can do at the other end.
For Birmingham, though they rotated the side in mid-week, it will be interesting to see what impact a grueling 90 minutes plus stoppage time has on the first-team players who were utilised.
It all points in Bristol City’s favour, and the home team can secure another win.
Bristol City are favourites to win at home to Birmingham City but they can still be backed at a price of 23/20 to win with Bet365.
Their recent defensive record has been key, and you can back against both teams to score at 23/20 with Betfair.
Along those same lines, a Bristol City win to nil will return 11/4 with Bet365 and under 2.5 goals fetches 10/11 with Bet365 and Betway.
Famara Diedhiou is a best price of 7/4 with Bet365 to score for the hosts, while top-scorer Andi Weimann is 49/20 with 888sport and in-form Jamie Paterson is 5/2 with Betfair and Paddy Power.
Bristol City are in fine form, not just winning games but keeping several clean sheets in a row too. They can continue that run of form and climb the table.
Markus Henriksen and Filip Benkovic could both make their Bristol City debuts after signing on loan on transfer deadline day. Benkovic’s arrival could mean Tomas Kalas is given more time to fully recover from his latest hamstring injury despite being back in training. Marley Watkins and Benik Afobe also remain sidelined, but Andi Weimann has shrugged off a dead leg. Jack Hunt (ankle) is rated 50-50 by manager Lee Johnson.
Famara Diedhiou – Scored the winner at QPR last weekend to move to eight league goals in 25 appearances so far this season.
Andreas Weimann – The Austrian remains Bristol City’s top league goalscorer this season, having scored nine times.
Jamie Paterson – Another recent match-winner, he has scored two goals in four appearances in wins against Wigan and Reading since returning to the club from his loan at Derby.
Bristol City have won their last four league games in a row, with only an FA Cup exit at League One Shrewsbury Town ruining their recent record. The last three matches have all ended 1-0 to the Robins – Niclas Eliasson scoring a late winner at home to Barnsley; Jamie Paterson netting the only goal at Reading; and Famara Diedhiou scoring last weekend’s match-winner at QPR.
Scott Hogan is likely to return after being ineligible to face Coventry City in the FA Cup fourth-round replay on Sunday. The striker will be one of several first-team regulars restored to the starting line-up. Josh McEachran, one of the players to feature against both Nottingham Forest and Coventry, was stretchered off with a knee injury in the latter game, however.
Scott Hogan – The Villa loanee scored on his debut last weekend and will be keen to make up for lost time after a frustrating start to the season when he was with Stoke.
Jeremie Bela – Scored the last-minute equaliser to force penalties against Coventry in mid-week after stepping off the bench in the second half of normal time.
Lukas Jutkiewicz – Scored his tenth goal of the season against Middlesbrough and set up Hogan’s last weekend and the last-minute equaliser in mid-week too.
Birmingham City are unbeaten in their last seven matches in all competitions, including their two draws – and eventual penalty shoot-out win – against Coventry City in the FA Cup fourth round. The Blues beat Nottingham Forest in their only Championship match in between – Scott Hogan and Kristian Pedersen scoring as they came from 1-0 down to beat Nottingham Forest 2-1.
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