Birmingham

Birmingham City V Wolves

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 7 January 2012 – 12:30 GMT

Venue: St Andrews

Preview

The first of five FA Cup Third Round ties to be shown live, either on ITV1 or ESPN, takes place at the home of last season’s Carling Cup winners, Birmingham, with St Andrews the setting for an all-Midlands clash between Chris Hughton’s Blues and Mick McCarthy’s Wolves.

Birmingham are of course Championship opposition now, after their relegation from the top flight on the final day of last season, although that hasn’t counted against them in the betting with bookmakers installing the Blues as 7/5 favourites to progress into the Fourth Round.

The main reason behind the market support for Chris Hughton’s Blues is their impressive record on home soil this term. In all competitions, and this includes three Europa League encounters, Birmingham have lost just once at St Andrews (W9 D5 L1) – a 3-1 loss to Braga of Portugal, who just last season were beating Arsenal in the Champions League.

Since their solitary defeat of the campaign at home, back on 15 September, Birmingham have won six of eleven in an unbeaten sequence; they’ve also conceded just seven goals during this run, which is typical of a team who were renowned for their staunch defence during their recent two-year spell in the top flight (2009-2011).

However, so much upheaval has taken place since the 2011 Carling Cup winners were strutting their stuff in the Premier League. There has been a change in manager, with Alex McLeish replaced by former Magpies boss Chris Hughton, while many of the club’s highest earners were urged to seek pastures new with goalkeeper Ben Foster, defender Roger Johnson, whom could start for Wolves on Saturday, Lee Bowyer and Cameron Jerome among those no longer at St Andrews.

The battle for top flight survival is Mick McCarthy’s top priority this season – and it is this reason why so many consider Birmingham the most likely winners in this contest. As following a gruelling festive schedule which saw Wolves contest three league games within the space of six days, two of which were against Arsenal and Chelsea, we’re all anticipating changes from the Wanderers tactician.

Mick McCarthy made wholesale changes in the Carling Cup earlier in the season, and the rumour going round is that he could do something similar in the FA CUp, a competition Wolves rarely go far in nowadays (they’ve exited at the Fourth Round, so the next round, in eight of the previous twelve editions of the competition). Although, those currently on the periphery of the Wolves first-team aren’t bad players; Kevin Foley, Ronald Zubar, Karl Henry, Emmanuel Frimpong and Matt Jarvis all come into contention.

Another almost certain to start is top scorer Steven Fletcher, who was used only as a substitute in the 2-1 home defeat to Chelsea last time out. Fletcher is Wolves’ leading marksmen this season with 8 goals, four shy of the tally he managed in the whole of the previous campaign.

Match Pointers

- Birmingham have lost just one of the last seven matches in which they have hosted Midlands rivals Wolves; however, that rare loss did occur in this very competition, and at this very stage of the tournament, back in 2009 as goals from Andy Keogh and Sam Vokes sealed a 2-0 success for Wolves in the Third Round of the 2008/09 FA Cup.

- There are seventeen positions separating these two clubs, with Wolves occupying 16TH in the Premier League and Birmingham 14TH in the Championship.

- Birmingham are unbeaten since Boxing Day, winning one and drawing two of their last three matches.

- The Blues haven’t lost a Championship match at St Andrews all season (W7 D4 L0), with their only reverse on home soil this season coming against Portuguese side Braga in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League.

- Chris Hughton’s Birmingham boast the strongest defensive record at home in the second tier with just five goals conceded in eleven games, keeping six clean sheets.

- Wolves are without a win in six in the Premier League,losing three, although their festive schedule was gruelling to say the least having faced such likes as Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United.

- The Molineux outfit have won just once away from home in the Premier League this season (W1 D3 L6), losing six and winning none of their previous eight.

Betting

A tricky contest to call, this. Whereas Birmingham merit a heap of respect for their exploits at home, having not lost a league match all season at St Andrews, they’re a shadow of the team they were last season under Alex Mcleish in the Premiership. Nonetheless, new manager Chris Hughton has retained some of the defensive fortitude which made the Blues such stubborn opponents in the top flight, especially at home; they’ve conceded just seven goals in their last eleven matches at St Andrews in all competitions, including the Europa League.

The hosts also go into the tie in good knick, too, having gone three unbeaten since Boxing Day. Wolves, meanwhile, have chalked up six without winning – three draws and three defeats – and were last victorious away from home at Northampton in the League Cup, losing seven of their subsequent nine road matches since. And if rumours are true that manager Mick McCarthy is considering resting a few of his key figures, establishing any sort of pre-match confidence in the visitors will be close to impossible.

Much does depend on the strength of the Wolves’ line-up, but even so Birmingham are formidable on their own patch and would be stern opposition for anyone. In the end, though, I’m struggling to select a winner – so draw it is.

Recommended Bet: Draw – 23/10 SkyBet

Value Bet: 0-0 Correct Score – 10/1 Ladbrokes

Match Odds

Birmingham City – 7/5 Ladbrokes

Draw – 23/10 SkyBet

Wolves – 9/4 VictorChandler

The battle to avoid the drop will go down to the very last day of the season and any one of five clubs could follow West Ham United through the trapdoor and down to the nPower Championship.

The Hammers’ six-year spell in the Barclay’s Premier League came to an abrupt end last Sunday as Wigan Athletic came back from the death to seal a quite stunning 3-2 victory to spark scenes of sheer jubilation in Greater Manchester, as the Wigan supporters rushed onto the pitch to congratulate the players who had pulled off a miraculous recovery – coming from 2-0 down at half-time to snatch all three points right at the death courtesy of Charles N’Zogbia’s stoppage time winner.

Now the Latics go into ‘Survival Sunday’ knowing they need maximum points from their visit to Stoke in order to enhance their chances of staying up, but even victory at the Brittania Stadium may not be enough to save their bacon. And the same applies to several of the clubs embroiled in this tantalising yet desperate fight for survival.

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The permutations are seemingly endless.

Wigan are second from bottom but level on 39-points with Blackpool and Birmingham, who are 18th and 17th respectively, while just above them are Wolves and Blackburn who are only one solitary point better off.

It couldn’t be any tighter, nor tense, as supporters of all five clubs – especially neutrals – gear up for what will surely be one of the more memorable final days in Premiership history.

Blackburn and Wolves will definitely stay up if they reign supreme on the final day. The one snag is that they face each other in a winner takes all contest at Molineux, home of Mick McCarthy’s resurgent Wolves side who are unbeaten in their last three – two wins and a draw – and have lost just two of eight at home in 2011.

You would think a draw would suit both clubs down to the ground, seeing as they have a one-point margin of error to play with. To be honest, a point would probably suffice considering their rivals all face tricky assignments away from home, though stalemate in this fixture could have serious consequences for both teams should Blackpool, Birmingham and Wigan all collect maximum points.

The likelihood of Blackpool, Birmingham and Wigan all beating Manchester United, Tottenham and Stoke respectively is slim, however. So much so that you can get odds of 100/1 with VictorChandler on such a scenario.

However, if two of three were to come out on top in their fixtures, Wolves would be relegated, as they sit one place below Blackburn in the table, because of their inferior goal difference.

Any one of Blackpool, Birmingham or Wigan could win and be relegated, or lose and stay up, based on goal difference, which just about sums up how crazy a predicament all three find themselves in.

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Various Permutations:

Wolves V Blackburn

- Victory for either team in this fixture would keep them up regardless of what happens elsewhere.

- A draw would more than likely suffice for Blackburn, who would then only be relegated if Blackpool, Birmingham and Wigan all pick up maximum points elsewhere.

- If two of either Blackpool, Birmingham or Wigan win then Wolves would be relegated with either a draw or a defeat.

- Blackburn will only be relegated if they lose to Wolves and at least two of the teams directly below them pick up three-points.

Blackpool, Birmingham & Wigan

- If one team can better the result of the other two, say Blackpool beat Manchester United at Old Trafford but Birmingham and Wigan could only manage draws at Tottenham and Stoke, then Blackpool would stay up, and vice versa.

- The same applies should one team draw and the other two lose.

- If any of their results match (not in scoreline), whether it be two or three of the teams in question, then it will boil down to goal difference. In Blackpool’s case, should they be level on points and goal difference with either Birmingham or Wigan at full-time, they would stay in the division because they’ve plundered more goals this season.

- Should neither pick up a point on the final, goal difference and the margin of their defeat would come into affect to determine who goes down.

Blackpool GD: -21
Birmingham GD: -20
Wigan GD: -22

Disclaimer: I cannot guarantee that the information published above regarding the various permutations to be 100% correct. I apologise sincerely for any mistakes made or for any oversights.

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Betting

To Be Relegated:

Blackburn – 13.00 (12/1) WilliamHill
Blackpool – 1.40 (2/5) Unibet
Birmingham – 1.70 (7/10) bWin
Wigan – 1.80 (4/5) Boylesports
Wolves –  9.00 (8/1) WilliamHill

To Win (Their respective fixtures this weekend):

Blackpool – 6.00 (5/1) VictorChandler
Birmingham – 6.50 (11/2) Boylesports
Blackburn – 4.00 (3/1) Bet365
Wigan – 2.60 (6/4) VictorChandler
Wolves – 2.20 (6/5) BetFred

Enhanced Doubles & Trebles (with VictorChandler)

Wigan & Wolves both to WIN – 4/1
Blackpool, Birmingham & Blackburn all to WIN – 155/1
Blackpool, Birmingham & Wigan all to WIN – 100/1
All Four to end in Draws (Man Utd V Blackpool, Tottenham V Birmingham, Stoke V Wigan & Wolves V Blackburn) – 207/1

Tottenham Hotspur V Birmingham City

Date & Kick-Off: Sunday, 22 May 2011 – 16:00 (GMT)
Venue: White Hart Lane
TV Coverage: Sky Sports HD2

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Preview

It wasn’t so long ago that they were crowned 2010/2011 Carling Cup winners, so it is some statement to say that Sunday’s crunch clash with Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane is without doubt the biggest match of the season for Birmingham City, who head into the final day knowing even victory may not keep them up.

The latter just about sums up how precarious Birmingham’s position down near the foot of the table is heading into ‘Survival Sunday’. The Blues will begin the day down in 17th, a single place above the relegation places but level on points, only with a superior goal difference, to Wigan and Blackpool who are 19th and 18th respectively. So, in theory, they could stay up even with defeat, but the same also applies should they record only their second Premiership win at White Hart Lane in seven visits.

In the opinion of supporters, it beggars belief that Birmingham are in such a mess as we approach the climax to another thoroughly entertaining Premiership season, especially not after the scenes at Wembley back in February.

Birmingham’s capture of the Carling Cup, upsetting Arsenal in the final to prevail against all the odds, was supposed to be a springboard, the catalyst for a strong finish to the season which would see the Blues comfortably avoid relegation, as they did with consummate ease last term. Unfortunately, it hasn’t panned out as planned. Far from it. In fact, they find themselves in a position where they have to better any number of side’s results on the final day if they’re to be assured of Premiership football next season, and they’ll be hard-pressed to take anything from Sunday’s fixture.

Not only are Birmingham in dire straights with their form, having lost four of their last five, key players will be missing – Scott Dann and Nikola Zigic among them, possibly even Ben Foster – while their record away to Tottenham during the Premier League era will only further dampen the spirits of the supporters; A 3-2 success back in December 2008 is Birmingham’s solitary triumph away to Spurs in the Premiership in six attempts.

Furthermore, their opponents on an eagerly-anticipated final day of the 2010/2011 season are unlike many others, and that’s because they actually have something to play for.

No one in their right mind at Tottenham actually wants Europa League football next season, manager Harry Redknapp has admitted as much, but avoiding the damn thing could prove futile. Even were Spurs to finish below Liverpool in the table, who are one-point behind in sixth with fifth-place the only position worthy of an entry into Europe’s second tier competition, Redknapp’s little angels could yet turn out in it regardless via the Fair Play league. That would be disastrous for a club Harry strongly believes has all the fundamentals to challenge for the Premiership title next season, as it would mean arriving back to training earlier than all their rivals in order to contest two two-legged ties before even making the draw for the Europe League proper.

So there shouldn’t be any half-measures from Tottenham, not if Harry has anything to do with it, which is good news for those embroiled in a relegation battle but heartbreaking for Alex McLeish and Birmingham, who haven’t looked capable of beating anyone based on recent form, let alone a team boasting as much talent and attacking quality as Tottenham. Then again, there’s only so much the Spurs boss can do, even with half-a-dozen supremely gifted players at his disposal.

Last week’s stunning win at Anfield was only Tottenham’s second in eleven league games, their first in six, while it’s been clear for some time now that an arduous campaign of competing on two important fronts – the league and in the Champions League, which they’ve established a taste for and are now not interested in settling for the ‘uncool’ Europa League – has caught up with the players, physically and mentally, and that some valueable respite is very much needed in order for his players to recharge their batteries ahead of another hopefully exciting and promising campaign.

So the sooner Harry sends his players off on their summer holidays the better, as far as he’s concerned. In the meantime, though, Spurs need to do their bit – by finishing fifth – as to avoid the worst case of scenario of resuming first-team training earlier than planned. Victory over Birmingham would sweeten the deal, regardless of what Liverpool do elsewhere at Aston Villa.

So will it come down to whose needs are greater? If so, Birmingham would surely win hands down. But it isn’t as straightforward as that. Will we even notice who the hungrier side should be? It should be Birmingham, however Alex McLeish’s men have lost their way ever since clinching the Carling Cup, some believe since Scott Dann’s injury, and have lacked the cohesion and togetherness which made them such a formidable opponent last season. I genuinely fear for Birmingham, as do most of their own fans.

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Form

Tottenham – DLDLW (Tottenham 2-2 West Brom, Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham, Tottenham 1-1 Blackpool, Man City 1-0 Tottenham, Liverpool 0-2 Tottenham)

Birmingham – LLDLL (Chelsea 3-1 Birmingham, Liverpool 5-0 Birmingham, Birmingham 1-1 Wolves, Newcastle 2-1 Birmingham, Birmingham 0-2 Fulham)

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Head-to-Head (Premiership)

Tottenham wins: 6
Draws: 4
Birmingham wins: 3

Last 5 Seasons

2010/2011: Birmingham 1-1 Tottenham
2009/2010: Birmingham 1-1 Tottenham
2009/2010: Tottenham 2-1 Birmingham
2007/2008: Birmingham 4-1 Tottenham
2007/2008: Tottenham 2-3 Birmingham

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Streaks & Trends

Tottenham have won five of the six Premiership encounters with Birmingham at White Hart Lane (W5 D0 L1), with Birmingham’s one and only triumph in north London coming back in December 2007.

Spurs have also scored precisely two goals on four occasions at home to Birmingham in the Premier League.

A 2-0 defeat of Liverpool at Anfield ended a five-match winless run for Tottenham, who have drawn four of their last five at White Hart Lane, including each of their last three.

Birmingham have lost four and won none of their last five, shipping thirteen goals during this dour spell.

The Blues have also collected just one miserly point from away fixtures against the top-six sides this season (Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City & Man Utd), managing just two goals themselves but conceding an alarming fifteen in return.

Alex McLeish‘s men have won only two of eighteen away from home this season (W2 D7 L9), and are without an away win for six games.

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Match Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur to WIN – 1.57 BetFred

Birmingham built up a formidable reputation last term for being incredibly well-organised, hard-working and for having this togetherness in camp which other teams could only dream of. All of those characteristics have gone array in 2011 – they’ll go into Sunday’s pivotal game without a win in five, four of which were losses. So hardly the form to inspire the masses, is it?

The Blues’ cause isn’t helped by Tottenham’s necessity to win. The last thing Harry Redknapp needs is to call back his players from their summer holidays to contest a couple of Europa League qualifiers. So he’ll be drilling it into his players the importance of registering maximum points from Sunday’s contest, though he’ll also want to repay the fans for their support over a long and exhausting campaign with a champagne performance on the final day.

No let-up from Spurs then and if their big names come to the fore, I see only one outcome – a comfortable victory for the hosts, who have reigned supreme in five of the previous six encounters with the Blues at White Hart Lane in the Premier League.

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Match Odds

Tottenham Hotspur – 1.57 BetFred
Draw – 4.33 VictorChandler
Birmingham City – 6.50 Bet365

Newcastle United V Birmingham City

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 7 May 2011 – 15:00 (GMT)
Venue: St James Park

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Preview

Despite failing to win any of their previous four matches, Newcastle should be exempt from relegation now that they’ve surpassed the 40-point milestone with the Magpies even harbouring ambitions of a top-half finish. Victory over a side in just as dismal form as themselves would do their top-ten credentials the world of good, though Saturday’s opponents Birmingham still find themselves in the relegation mire and will be pushing the hosts all the way at St James’ seeking the win which would rubber-stamp their inclusion in next season’s Barclay’s Premier League.

The Blues have amassed 39-points from their 35 Premiership fixtures thus far and are so close to survival that they can almost reach out and touch it. That said, there is only four-points separating them and third from bottom Wigan. A drastic weekend in which they lose and those below them pick up points would dramatically increase the pressure on Alex McLeish and his team, who haven’t secured maximum points in an away fixture since 6 February, when beating a now rock-bottom West Ham 1-0 at Upton Park. Since then, they’ve gone on to record two draws and three defeats and will arrive on Tyneside still scarred by back-to-back emphatic away losses away at Chelsea (3-1) and Liverpool (5-0).

To make matters a whole lot worse for Blues manager Alex McLeish, the Scot only has one fit available striker – Cameron Jerome, who has scored just three times in 2010/2011 – while arguably their stand-out player of the season, Craig Gardner, who has been just as influential in the Birmingham midfield as Ben Foster has between the sticks, will begin a two-match ban following his two bookable offences in the disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Wolves last Sunday.

At least the Birmingham chief can confide in his opposite number this weekend, as both Alex McLeish and Alan Pardew have experienced heavy defeats at the hands of Liverpool recently. Birmingham were obliterated at Anfield just two weeks ago while Newcastle, despite glimpses of resilience and the odd moment of defiance, were eventually rolled over. The difference in the performances however was that Newcastle actually had a bit of fight in them, some resistance against an improving and very impressive of late Liverpool side. That character you so regularly associate with one of McLeish’s team has been non-existent in recent weeks, and that’s a worry ahead of Saturday’s match-up, in a fixture where Birmingham’s record during the Premier League era is nasty!

Over the years, these two have contested thirteen Premiership matches, six of which went the way of the Magpies, whom ran out comfortable 2-0 winners when the two renew acquaintances at St Andrews back in February. As for Birmingham, they’ve only beaten Newcastle twice in the Premier League, though both were on Tyneside and their most recent, back in 2007, was a resounding 5-1 victory. As impressive as the latter score is, it doesn’t have any baring on this weekend’s clash.

Now we’re approaching the end of this preview and next up will be my match prediction, and I have to say I cannot steer myself away from the home side. At around EVENS, they aren’t the worst price you’ll see this weekend, while their half-decent stats combine nicely with Birmingham’s, which are horrific. The Blues struggle to score goals, have only won a couple of matches on their travels this season and will come face-to-face with a spirited Newcastle who, more times than not, thrive off their passionate home support at St James’ Park.

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Form & Last Result

Newcastle – WLDDL (Newcastle 4-1 Wolves, Aston Villa 1-0 Newcastle, Newcastle 0-0 Man Utd, Blackpool 1-1 Newcastle, Liverpool 3-0 Newcastle)

Comprehensively beaten by Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield last Sunday, Newcastle are targeting a return to winning ways this Saturday after four games without securing maximum points. The Magpies, though, have only tasted defeat once at St James’ in 2011 (1/7) and should fancy their chances of ending their barren spell up against a Birmingham side they comfortably beat 2-0 at St Andrews back in February.

Birmingham – DWLLD (Blackburn 1-1 Birmingham, Birmingham 2-0 Sunderland, Chelsea 3-1 Birmingham, Liverpool 5-0 Birmingham, Birmingham 1-1 Wolves)

A feisty Midlands derby between Birmingham and Wolves ended all-square, 1-1, that despite Birmingham spending much of the game down to ten-men. Craig Gardner was shown a red card for two bookable offences, the latter for diving, and will now miss Saturday’s trip to Tyneside as a result. Sebastian Larsson with the goal for Birmingham, cancelling out Steven Fletcher’s opener for Wolves, after the striker was brought down by Ben Foster, the Blues keeper who had one of his poorest games of the season.

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Head-to-Head (Premiership)

Newcastle wins: 6
Draws: 5
Birmingham wins: 2

Last 5 Seasons

2010/2011: Birmingham 0-2 Newcastle
2007/2008: Birmingham 1-1 Newcastle
2007/2008: Newcastle 2-1 Birmingham
2006/2007: Newcastle 1-5 Birmingham
2006/2007: Birmingham 2-2 Newcastle

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Match Prediction: Newcastle United to WIN – 2.00 Coral

When it all clicks at the back, Birmingham can be a thorn in anyone’s side. Unfortunately, their defence hasn’t been running like a well-oiled machine for some time, with their usually reliable Ben Foster in goal the main culprit. The former Manchester United goalie had a stinker at St Andrews last weekend, when conceding a penalty and making several rash and abrasive decisions which could have cost his team what turned out to be a valuable point, considering they spent much of the game with a numerical disadvantage.

The bare facts paint a rather distasteful picture of Birmingham, who have been poor on the whole on their travels, suspect at the back of late and will begin proceedings with a team severely lacking in goal potential.

Some of Newcastle’s vintage football this season has come at St James’ and while I doubt they’ll run a riot on Saturday, I do rate their chances of consolidating their Premiership status with a hard-fought victory.

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Value Bets

Draw @ 3.50 Boylesports

Only three other teams have drawn more matches at home this season than Newcastle (7), while nobody has drawn more matches collectively that Birmingham (15).

Both Teams to Score @ 1.83 SkyBet

Both teams have scored in 7 of the 13 Premiership encounters between the two, including four of the previous five.

Kevin Nolan First Goalscorer @ 7.00 PaddyPower (General)

The Newcastle captain has opened the scoring on five separate occasions at St James’ this season.

Sebastian Larsson to Score @ 7.00 888Sport (888 Bet)

The want-a-way Swede has scored three of Birmingham’s last four goals and is deadly from free-kicks.

Birmingham to Score Exactly 1 Goal @ 2.50 PaddyPower

The Blues have scored precisely one goal in five of their last six away games, eight overall away from home.

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Match Odds

Newcastle United – 2.00 Coral
Draw – 3.50 Boylesports
Birmingham City – 4.33 Totesport

Liverpool V Birmingham City

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 23 April 2011 – 15:00 (GMT)
Venue: Anfield

There aren’t too many teams in the country who can claim they’ve gotten the better of one of the most decorated clubs in Europe, let alone England, however Birmingham City certainly can. The Blues have been Liverpool’s nemesis during the Premier League era and will set out to protect their incredible nine-match unbeaten league run against the Reds at Anfield on Saturday, though they’ll be hard-pressed to get any sort of result against a strong-finishing Liverpool.

Liverpool have endured a miserable time of things with Birmingham in recent games, who for one reason or another have all the characteristics to frustrate the 18-time English champions. The previous seven league meetings have ended up all-square, including last season’s Anfield clash, which finished 2-2, and it is now down to Kop hero Kenny Dalglish to break Birmingham’s stranglehold over the Reds.

Dalglish would appear the right man for the job, though, as the Liverpool manager has proved inspirational during his three-month spell as caretaker manager, so much so that fans are waiting with baited breath to hear that the club icon has put ink to paper on a new deal. Not only are fans ecstatic to see a trusted face in the dug-out, the brand of football Liverpool now play is far more entertaining than under the previous regime, while continuity in results has also improved no end.

The club are even back challenging for European football again, although it would appear their revival in fortunes has come too late in the day. Fifth-placed Tottenham are five-points ahead of the Reds in the table in this race for Europa League football next season, but crucially Spurs also have a game in hand meaning Liverpool don’t really have any concrete targets that will keep them interested until the final day of the season.

The above said, don’t be fooled into thinking the players already have one eye on their summer vacations. A demolition job of Manchester City in their last Anfield encounter was the firmest message yet from Dalglish and his charges that they’re 100% focused on finishing the season like a steam train, which is exactly how they finished last Sunday’s extraordinary contest with Arsenal in north London.

A depleted Liverpool paid title-chasing Arsenal a visit at the Emirates Stadium looking to scupper the Gunners’ bid for silverware, and they did just that courtesy of one of the most gutsy and spirited performances I have seen from any team all season long. Two inexperienced teenage full-backs nor the absence of Steven Gerrard got in the way of Liverpool defying all the odds and spoiling Arsenal’s party, with Dirk Kuyt equalising from the spot in the 111th minute with the very last kick of the game to seal a memorable draw and a vital point, vital because it maintained the team’s positive run of form, with the Reds having now lost two of their previous twelve matches in the Premier League.

Meanwhile Birmingham’s most recent assignment was also a trip to London, though their fortunes were contrasting to that of their match day rivals. The Blues were blown away by a powerful and resurgent Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and that makes it four games without an away win for Birmingham, who have recorded just two league victories on their travels all season: W2 D7 L7. Still, as you can see by the amount of hard-fought points they’ve picked up, there aren’t too many sides as resilient and hard-working as Alex McLeish’s men, who always put in a shift at Anfield.

So can Liverpool put an end to this destructive pattern of results against the Blues? I’m extremely confident that they will, as for all Birmingham’s resilience and second to none organisation, Liverpool have been playing like a team possessed at Anfield of late, thumping Manchester United and Manchester City in their last two home clashes alone in an impressive seven-match unbeaten streak on Merseyside.

In Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez, Liverpool also have options going forward and a number methods for overcoming what is likely to be a heavily guarded Birmingham goal. Carroll is almost unplayable through the air while Suarez’s tricky with the ball at his feet will make him a constant threat whenever he’s in possession. Throw in an almost impenetrable defence, one which has conceded just two goals in 450 minutes of action at Anfield, and we should have a recipe for Liverpool success.

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Head-to-Head (Premier League)

Liverpool wins: 2
Draws: 8
Birmingham wins: 3

Last 5 Seasons

2010/2011: Birmingham 0-0 Liverpool
2009/2010: Birmingham 1-1 Liverpool
2009/2010: Liverpool 2-2 Birmingham
2007/2008: Birmingham 2-2 Liverpool
2007/2008: Liverpool 0-0 Birmingham

Streaks & Trends

The previous seven league meetings between the two sides have ended all-square: 0-0 x2, 1-1 x2 and 2-2 x3.

Liverpool’s last league victory over Birmingham was back in May 2004, with Birmingham edging the head-to-head with 3 wins to Liverpool’s miserly 2.

Anfield has become a fortress for Liverpool, the Reds having won five and lost none of their last seven home Premier League matches on Merseyside.

Pepe Reina has conceded just two goals in 450 minutes of football at Anfield in the league.

Birmingham have won only twice away from home all season: W2 D7 L6.

The Blues have scored exactly 1 goal in each of their last five away games.

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Betting Odds & Tips

Match Prediction: Liverpool to WIN – 1.50 Boylesports

Invariably Liverpool rise to the occasion for the high profile encounters but struggle against those who set up shop at Anfield. I genuinely believe they won’t encounter those same problems on Saturday against a Birmingham side who will look to defend for large periods, as a point from this fixture would be massive considering how formidable Liverpool’s form has been in recent weeks.

Kenny Dalglish is still shorn of several first-team players, including full-back Glen Johnson and captain Steve Gerrard, but the youngsters who have deputised have done so superbly. Jay Spearing in particular has been outstanding filling in for Steven Gerrard. But all around the park you have players bang-in-form; Spearing thriving off all the praise he’s been receiving while Dirk Kuyt simply can’t stop scoring of late and will be looking to build on his purple patch having notched up six goals in his last five league appearances.

Then we have this flourishing striking partnership of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez, who were too hot to handle for Manchester City last time out at Anfield, and in the pair of them – one almost unplayable through the air and the other a menace with the ball at his feet – Liverpool have those differing options in attack which they haven’t had in previous campaigns, campaigns where they would struggle to churn out priceless victories in similar fixtures. 

Liverpool brushed aside both Man Utd and Man City in their two most recent home assignments and I fully expect Birmingham to go the same way.

Value Bet: Luis Suarez First Goalscorer – 5.00 SkyBet

A little on the short side, however, I can guarantee that you’ll be getting value for money, as the Uruguayan simply cannot stand not scoring. Prolific in the Dutch Eredivisie with Ajax, Suarez was determined to get on the scoresheet at Arsenal last time out and ended up doing a little too much. But he’s a trier, and if Liverpool do score a couple on Saturday, and I suspect they will, then Suarez will no doubt be thereabouts.

Match Odds:

Liverpool – 1.50  Boylesports
Draw – 4.50 VictorChandler
Birmingham City – 8.50 VictorChandler

Chelsea V Birmingham City

Date & Kick-Off: Wednesday, 20 April 2011 – 19:45 (GMT)
Venue: Stamford Bridge

After morale-boosting wins at the weekend, Chelsea and Birmingham will meet at Stamford Bridge in high spirits both aiming to build on encouraging streaks – Chelsea are currently unbeaten in seven in the league whereas Birmingham are without defeat in their last three. However, understandably the bookies are favouring a seemingly rejuvenated Chelsea in a fixture which up until November of last year, when Birmingham secured their first ever Barclay’s Premier League victory over the Londoners at the fifteenth time of asking, they have dominated.

Apart from the fact Chelsea’s record is so formidable against Birmingham in the Premier League, the West Londoners are also, according to all the national newspapers, back in this title race. I’m not so sure. Eight-points currently separates Carlo Ancelotti’s Blues from Sir Alex’s Reds, which basically means that if Chelsea are to successfully defend their crown – against all the odds it would seem, as the 2009/2010 Premier League champions are a best-priced 15.00 (14/1) with Totesport to retain their crown – then they must win all six of their remaining league games. Even then favours elsewhere are needed, though encouragement can be had from the fact Chelsea are still to visit Old Trafford while United will travel to the Emirates to face Arsenal on 1 May.

While Chelsea have a clear incentive, don’t be fooled into thinking Birmingham have nothing to play for. Alex McLeish’s men may be unbeaten in their last three games – registering a healthy seven points following home wins over Bolton and Sunderland, as well as a creditable away draw with Blackburn – however they are by no means out of this relegation wood just yet and require one more victory from their remaining fixtures in order to quash any fear or anxiety regarding relegation back to the nPower Championship.

Birmingham may even feel that they hold all the aces, after it was they who came out on top when the two teams clashed at St Andrews back in November. However, back then Chelsea were in a right mess – although they still carved out numerous opportunities and should never have lost that game – and Wednesday’s outfit will be a different proposition altogether; a team who have now gone an impressive seven league games without defeat, winning five including three on the spin in London.

A hot topic of debate has been Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to revert back to the old and trusted 4-3-3 formation with Didier Drogba spearheading the attack instead of a misfiring Torres, who came closest yet to ending his torrid spell in front of goal when prodding into an empty net at the weekend only to see his effort ruled out for offside, as it worked a treat on Saturday as Chelsea stormed back from 1-0 down at The Hawthorns to overcome a confident, in-form West Brom 3-1 in the Midlands in eye-catching style. Momentum is so often key in title races, so I expect the Italian to stick rather than twist on this occasion, something he hasn’t done enough of in recent weeks.

David Luiz should also return to the back-four, that despite Alex’s return from injury. Ramires is the only doubt for Ancelotti ,with the Brazilian missing at the weekend with a muscular problem but should be available for Wednesday’s affair.

As for Birmingham, it would be no great surprise to see two banks of four try to protect Ben Foster’s clean sheet for as long as humanely possible. With Drogba playing as though he has a point to prove, Malouda and Kalou as well to some degree, as well as Lampard looking something like his former self on Saturday, a Birmingham clean sheet would appear a long-shot. And in terms of scoring past Chelsea shot-stopper Petr Cech, that too will prove a stiff ask for the visitors who have failed to score in nine of their fifteen Premier League meetings with the west London club. 

Alex McLeish is still without long-term absentee Scott Dann while forward duo Obafemi Martins and Nikola Zigic are unlikely to make the trip to Stamford Bridge because of groin problems.

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Head-to-Head (Premier League)

Chelsea wins: 7
Draws: 5
Birmingham wins: 1

Last 5 Seasons

2010/2011: Birmingham 1-0 Chelsea
2009/2010: Chelsea 3-0 Birmingham
2009/2010: Birmingham 0-0 Chelsea
2007/2008: Birmingham 0-1 Chelsea
2007/2008: Chelsea 3-2 Birmingham

Streaks & Trends

Birmingham won their very first Premiership encounter with Chelsea at the fifteenth time of asking – midfielder Lee Bowyer scoring the only goal of the game when the two teams met at St Andrews back in November, 2010.

Birmingham have only ever scored two goals at home against Chelsea in the Premier League, and just five goals overall.

Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda has scored in both Stamford Bridge meetings with Birmingham.

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Betting Odds & Tips

Match Prediction: Chelsea to WIN – 1.22 WilliamHill

On their day, Birmingham can be a real nuisance to break down. Unfortunately, these ‘days’ of theirs tend only to occur at St Andrews. Away at Arsenal they were beaten 2-1 while their heaviest defeat of the season thus far came away at Old Trafford against Manchester United (5-0). To top it off, their record against Chelsea in the Premier League era is abysmal.

Chelsea shook off their Champions League cobwebs with a fine performance and victory at the weekend, comfortably beating West Brom 3-1 to extend their unbeaten run in the league to seven. Now they go in search of their fourth win on the spin at Stamford Bridge, one which would keep alive hopes of retaining their title. Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba both played on Saturday as though they had found a new lease of life, so hopefully Ancelotti names an unchanged team. If so, I don’t see Birmingham getting in their way of securing maximum points.

Value Bet: Frank Lampard & Didier Drogba both to score – 4.00 SkyBet

Match Odds:

Chelsea – 1.22 WilliamHill
Draw – 6.50 Bet365
Birmingham City – 17.00 VictorChandler

Birmingham City V Sunderland

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 16 April 2011 – 15:00 (GMT)
Venue: St Andrews

There are just three points separating Birmingham in 16th and Sunderland in 13th, so expect pundits and supporters alike to bring that old relegation six-pointer cliché out of the closet as two seriously out of form sides do battle for priceless points in the Midlands this weekend.

Birmingham are the slight favourites although by default in many ways, with a usually formidable St Andrews the venue for Saturday’s crunch clash – Alex McLeish’s men have collected 22 of their 35 points this season at home. The Blues, though, have only mustered one win from their last six league games – a 2-1 victory over Bolton in their most recent home game – but can at least take some encouragement from their current two-match unbeaten run.

Unfortunately for Sunderland manager Steve Bruce, the Black Cats boss doesn’t have a single positive to drawn upon for inspiration ahead of one of many pivotal fixtures between now and the end of the term. A 3-2 home reverse at the hands of West Brom last Saturday was Sunderland’s third defeat on the spin, and their seventh in an eight-match barren run which has seen the Wearsider’s go close to three months without celebrating a hard-fought win in the Premier League.

So, take your pick. Neither have outstanding credentials with Birmingham probably edging it on paper courtesy of home advantage, which could prove decisive considering Sunderland are without a win on their travels in four, failing to even score on their previous three outings.

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Birmingham City

League Position: 16th
League Form: LDLWD

Now three-points clear of the relegation places following an upturn in form which has seen them collect four points from their last two league games, Birmingham have at least put one foot in front of the other as they seek to extend their stay in the Premier League. That said, their late dash for survival could potentially be marred by injuries, with Blues manager Alex McLeish likely to be shorn of a host of key players for this weekend’s crunch encounter with fellow survival hopefuls Sunderland.

The Black Cats will arrive at St Andrews, where Birmingham’s record in the league this season is a healthy W5 D7 L4, in a disconcerting state having lost seven and won none of their previous eight games. It’s perhaps understandable then that Birmingham are treating this as if it’s their most important remaining fixture, as it’s certainly their easiest on paper.

Maximum points on Saturday against a side who are in dire shape at the minute would do Birmingham’s survival cause the power of good. Not only would the Blues rise several places up the standings, they would also move to within two points of that sought-after 40-point milestone, a haven for all those struggling to confirm their Premier League statuses.

In fairness, anything less than three points would be a turn up for the books considering how dismal the visiting team’s form is in comparison to Birmingham’s recent revival, with Alex McLeish’s men now unbeaten in their last two and were also 2-1 winners over Bolton last time out at St Andrews – Kevin Philips forced into the firing line from the off, and opening the scoring, at a time when the ranks are severely depleted.

Injuries would appear the only obstacle standing in the way of a Birmingham victory, with key players such as Curtis Davies, Martin Jiranek, Roger Johnson, David Bentley, Jean Beausejour, Obafemi Martins and Nikola Zigic all either carrying knocks or out injured altogether – the ever reliable centre-back Scott Dann has been ruled out for the rest of the season while there is still no sign of James McFadden’s return from a long-term knee problem.

Sunderland

League Position: 13th
League Form: LDLLL

Without a win in eight games but having also registered an alarming one point from a possible 24, Sunderland manager Steve Bruce is nevertheless remaining optimistic about his side’s chances of a strong finish to the season. In fact, the former Wigan and Birmingham chief has boldly claimed that a top-ten finish is the only target on the agenda, as survival should be a formality because of their lightweight run-in.

Sunderland are like most teams in that they have only six games left before the summer looms large, though that is where the similarities between them and their rivals ends, however.

No side in the Premier League has a more easier run-in than the Black Cats, although that’s probably just as well considering no team is in a more critical shape than Sunderland with regards to form. Steve Bruce’s men face home encounters with Wigan (20th), Fulham (11th) and Wolves (19th) before the season is out, as well as trips to Birmingham (16th), Bolton (8th) and West Ham (18th) on the final day of the season – though even this seemingly straight-forward run-in is likely to prove an uphill mountain for a side who have drawn one and lost seven of its last eight league games, not to mention failing to even score in half of those.

Bruce has citied untimely injuries and the severity of an excruciating recent schedule which seen them go toe-for-toe with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Man City and Tottenham since the beginning of February – with the irony being that their only point in over two months of football coming at the Emirates away to Arsenal, who are second in the table and pushing United all the way for the title.

Injuries are still a problem but no longer can the Sunderland boss lay all the blame at the high standard of  opponent, as it’s all downhill from this moment on, which is basically how we would describe Sunderland’s season in 2011 – a downhill decline!

Bruce, though, believes he can and will arrest a drastic slide starting with Saturday’s match-up with fifth-from-bottom Birmingham City at St Andrews, incidentally where Sunderland have a miserable Premier League record of W0 D1 L4.

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Head-to-Head (Premier League ONLY)

Birmingham wins: 5
Draws: 2
Sunderland wins: 2

Last 5 Seasons

2010/2011: Sunderland 2-2 Birmingham
2009/2010: Sunderland 3-1 Birmingham
2009/2010: Birmingham 2-1 Sunderland
2007/2008: Sunderland 2-0 Birmingham
2007/2008: Birmingham 2-2 Sunderland

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Betting Odds & Tips

Match Prediction: Draw – 3.30 PaddyPower

A seriously out of form Sunderland travel to St Andrews to face a severely depleted Birmingham.

Birmingham are renowned for being very difficult to beat at St Andrews, even more so when they play Sunderland, having won four and lost none of the previous five Premiership encounters in the Midlands, but could be without a host of key players.

Meanwhile, Sunderland are in an alarming rut which has seen them register just a solitary point from a possible 24 and lose three of their last four road trips, shipping ten goals in the process, not to mention failing to score on their travels in their last three.

No team has drawn more matches this season than Birmingham (14), while Sunderland aren’t too far behind on 11. Throw in a statistic like this match being a tussle between two of the league’s weakest attacks – Birmingham having plundered 31 goals in as many games, Sunderland 35 goals in 32 -  and the draw suddenly becomes the only worthwhile bet. You know it makes sense!

Value Bet: 0-0 Draw (Correct Score) – 9.00 SkyBet

Two of the league’s poorest attacks go head-to-head at St Andrews, with the draw looking a stunning piece of value. Even more alluring is the odds on a 0-0 scoreline. Neither have excelled in front of goal this season, with Birmingham having played out two 0-0 draws at home, Sunderland the three away from home.

Match Odds:

Birmingham City – 2.25 totesport
Draw – 3.30 PaddyPower
Sunderland – 3.60 BetFred

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Blackburn V Birmingham

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 9 April 2011 – 15:00 (GMT)
Venue: Ewood Park

Sat side-by-side in the table, you’d be naïve to think that this clash was anything but a six-pointer – especially as defeat for either party could be accompanied by a spell inside the bottom three.

Blackburn Rovers are without a win in their last seven following a hard-fought 0-0 draw at the Emirates with Arsenal last Saturday, but as impressive as that result was it hasn’t done a great deal to boost their precarious situation down near the foot of the table.

Alex McLeish’s Birmingham, meanwhile, handed their ailing survival cause a massive boost with their first win in the league for five games. The experienced Kevin Phillips opening the scoring for the Blues, helping his side to a much-needed 2-1 victory over Bolton at St Andrews.

So, it’s Birmingham who head into Saturday’s crunch clash with a spring in their step. However, not only is Blues manager Alex McLeish possibly missing a whole host of stars, Birmingham have never beaten Blackburn at Ewood Park in the Premier League (W0 D3 L3) and will be aiming to avoid a fourth consecutive 2-1 defeat to Rovers in Lancashire this Saturday.

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Blackburn

League Position: 14th
League Form: DLLDD

Brought in to bring some entertainment to Ewood Park, Steve Kean is still to get to grips with his role as manager of Blackburn Rovers. Sam Allardyce’s controversial successor has won just three of his fourteen league games in charge – and none of his last seven – and there is now growing speculation that the 43-year-old, who was only appointed manager just before Christmas, will soon be out of the job unless results dramatically improve.

As a direct result of their dismal stretch of form, having collected a miserly three points from a possible 21, Rovers have slid down the table at a rate of knots – this a club who let’s not forget were targeting a European finish as soon as Kean was confirmed as permanent boss at the beginning of the year on a two-year deal – and dreams of playing in the Europa League have quickly turned into nightmares of a relegation back to the dreaded Football League.

Blackburn, with seven games still to play, are just two points off the drop, but they do at least have the comfort of having more than enough fixtures left to save the day. Victory on Saturday, over a Birmingham side who only recently buried the hatchet on their bout of poor form, would move Kean’s men to within one more win of that sought-after 40-point milestone which normally ensures survival. So, while their run of form is worrying, it is still far too early to be getting downbeat, especially ahead of what could possibly be one of their biggest games of the season this weekend.

The Lancashire club have of course won the previous three meetings at Ewood Park, as we pointed out so kindly above, and is invariably where the majority of their league victories arise. Six of their nine league wins this season have come at home, and a seventh – one which would take them into double figures overall – would put some valuable breathing space between them and the fast-approaching relegation zone.

Birmingham

League Position: 15th
League Form: LLDLW

Having recently quelled a four-game winless run, Birmingham go in search of back-to-back victories which would put them within touching distance of another term in the Premier League. However, the Blues have previously never won a Premiership encounter at Ewood Park with Blackburn, in fact they have tasted in defeat in their last three visits to Lancashire and have won just twice away from home all season. A certainty then.

The levels of anxiety around Birmingham were growing before the ever-green Kevin Phillips fired the club towards their first league win for a little over a month. The 37-year-old also maintained his trend of having scored in all four games he has started for Birmingham in the league this season, and he’s unlikely to score many more important as not only was his opening goal at St Andrews last Saturday the catalyst for a first league win since their Carling Cup triumph at Wembley back in late February, it may well be the catalyst for an end-of-season survival push which helps the club retains its top-flight status.

Birmingham are currently six-points shy of that magic 40-point marker which generally guarantees survival, although they are also just two-points off the bottom-three. On the plus side, the Blues will contest more fixtures than any of their relegation rivals, although that is unfortunately where the positives end from a Birmingham perspective.

Not only is their record on the road this season atrocious, having won only two of their fourteen away encounters, Blues manager Alex McLeish will once again be shorn of several first-team figures for Saturday’s crunch game in Lancashire. Scott Dann and James McFadden are highly unlikely to play again this season while Martin Jiranek, Alex Hleb, Obafemi Martins and Nikola Zigic are all doubtful.

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Head-to-Head (Premier League ONLY)

Blackburn wins: 5
Draws: 3
Birmingham wins: 5

Last 5 Seasons

2010/2011: Birmingham 2-1 Blackburn
2009/2010: Blackburn 2-1 Birmingham
2009/2010: Birmingham 2-1 Blackburn
2007/2008: Birmingham 4-1 Blackburn
2007/2008: Blackburn 2-1 Birmingham

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Betting

Match Prediction: Draw – 3.40 WilliamHill

Blackburn’s recent record at home to Birmingham may be impeccable, however Rovers are in dismal form right now and with Birmingham having recently put to bed their poor vein of form which had previously seen them fail to win a league game since clinching the Carling Cup at the end of February, I believe Alex McLeish’s so often resilient charges will do enough to ground out a worthy point from a difficult outing.

A lot could depend on who does and doesn’t recover in time for Alex McLeish, who is facing something of a striker-crisis at the minute. One forward he can ill-afford to be without however is Cameron Jerome, who has five goals in five Premier League appearances against Blackburn.

Value Bet: Cameron Jerome First Goalscorer – 9.00 VictorChandler

Match Odds:

Blackburn – 2.10 Boylesports
Draw – 3.40 WilliamHill
Birmingham – 4.20 VictorChandler

Birmingham V Bolton

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 2 April – 15:00 (GMT)
Venue: St Andrews

Birmingham

League Position: 19th
League Form: WLLDL

As memorable as their capture of the Carling Cup was, Birmingham have been paying a heavy price with their league form ever since. Blues boss Alex McLeish has admitted as such claiming his charges have relinquished every ounce of momentum they had heading into that final and has now urged his team to show some character in what is the club’s hour of need, the Scot having failed to mastermind a league win since 12 February.

Since their unforgettable day out at Wembley; beating Arsenal 2-1 in last month’s League Cup final, the Blues have failed to win a single game in the league (2) and were also dumped out of the FA Cup by this weekend’s opponents, just one round before another trip to Wembley was on the cards.

As a direct result of their slump in form, Birmingham now reside in 19th, just one place off the foot of the table but, encouragingly, only a point off safety meaning a positive return from this weekend’s clash with Bolton, preferrably in the form of a win, which would go some way to avenging their bitter FA Cup Sixth Round defeat, could, depending on how others in close proximity fare elsewhere, lift the club jump out of the dreaded relegation zone – a tasty incentive for the players if ever I saw one.

Quite how they will muster that elusive win remains to be seen. Their last-gasp defeat away at Wigan (2-1) last time out – Ben Foster conceding in the dying embers of that game – stretched their barren spell in the league to three games, three of which were defeats. So morale is hardly going to be at an all-time high.

Injuries to Alex Hleb and Martin Jiranek only compounds Alex McLeish’s woes, while Obafemi Martins, who scored Birmingham’s famous winner in the Carling Cup final, is rated doubtful along with Ben Foster who was forced to withdraw from the England squad with illness. However, Lee Bowyer should at least be in contention.

Bolton

League Position: 7th
League Form: LWDWL

The Trotters hold fond memories of their last visit to St Andrews, but they’ll be hard-pressed to repeat the trick not even a month after they were last in the Midlands contesting a fixture with the Blues, that despite Birmingham’s recent slump in form, as Bolton’s record on the road in the Premier League this season has been woeful, and even more so since the turn of the year.

In an FA Cup Sixth Round tie, Bolton produced one of their most dogged and bullish displays of the season when they last came face-to-face with St Andrews and their usually formidable occupants. Elmander, Davies and Lee were the scorers for Bolton in a stunning 3-2 triumph which helped the club seal a club-first trip to the new Wembley for the semi-finals. Although another win over the same opponents wouldn’t be as rewarding as a trip to Wembley, what it would do is keep alive their hopes and dreams of a return to Europe.

Owen Coyle has done a tremendous job just in steering the club well away from any potential threat of relegation, with the club having reached the magic 40-point milestone which normally assures safety with eight games to spare, but the Bolton manager still harbours hopes of a top-five finish which would reward his hard-working team with Europa League football next season. Currently, with the season drawing to a close, the Trotters find themselves nine-points shy of fifth-placed Tottenham having also played one game more, but a succession of wins could change their situation dramatically, and that’s the carrot which Coyle hopes will keep his players interested right until the very end of the term.

It is highly unlikely that Bolton will beat the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham to fifth, but European football would drift even further into the distance should they lose further ground. So they need three points from this weekend’s trip to St Andrews, where they’ve won only two of six Premier League meetings. The task becomes even more daunting when you consider that Owen Coyle and his team haven’t celebrated an away victory in the league since 13 November; losing seven and winning none of their last eight away league games.

Owen Coyle does have his fair share of injuries but few of huge significance. One player in particular who will be sorely missed is tough-tackling midfielder Stuart Holden. The American’s absence could prove decisive as Bolton compete against one of the more combative midfield set-ups in the Premier League.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Seasons

2010/2011: Bolton 2-2 Bimingham
2009/2010: Bolton 2-1 Birmingham
2009/2010: Birmingham 1-2 Bolton
2007/2008: Bolton 3-0 Birmingham
2007/2008: Birmingham 1-0 Bolton

Premier League

Birmingham wins: 5
Bolton wins: 6
Draws: 2 

Betting

Match Prediction: Birmingham to WIN – 2.50 Boylesports

Birmingham could possibly be without several crucial figures for Saturday’s match with high-flying Bolton, who themselves post an extensive list of absentees. Owen Coyle, though, is without only squad players, only a select few first-team personnel, and that should give the Trotters the slight edge, mentally more than anything else.

Picking a winner becomes excrutiatingly difficult when using only form as your compass, as neither boast a strong set of credentials in this particular department. Bolton have won three of their last six in the league whereas Birmingham are without a win in four, having lost three of those. However, home comforts should serve the Blues well, as well as the two-week international break enabling them to reassess their situation and handing them valueble time to recover from a recent lull in form.

So, I’ve decided to take a chance of Alex McLeish’ out-of-sorts but in desperate need of points Birmingham, probably because they’re facing a Bolton side who haven’t won away from home in the league since early-November and have lost seven of their previous eight away assigments; five of which without scoring.

Value Bet: Birmingham to WIN to NIL – 4.20 PaddyPower

If the Blues are to stop the rot, their usually rock-solid and reliable defence will probably be at the heart of the success. It does help that their opponents at the weekend are a Bolton team who have failed to find the back of the net in five of their previous eight away league games.

Match Odds:

Birmingham – 2.50 Boylesports
Draw – 3.30 VictorChandler
Bolton – 3.10 BetFred

We are down to the final eight and although there have been some big name casualties along the way, we’re not on course to see a shock winner. However, there is the genuine possibility of seeing another surprise finalist, with several who are still standing unlikely to have been a popular betting selection in the early stages of the tournament. A lot does depend on the draw, which, to be fair, has been kind to the dark horses so far, as in the Quarter-Finals Arsenal and Manchester United were drawn together in a cracker of a contest which will whet the appetite of every neutral.

In fairness, whenever Arsenal and United come to loggerheads, there is a media frenzy. It’s an opportunity for Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson to renew their long-standing rivalry, but it could also prove a telling encounter between two of the more likelier teams for the league title – and the victor could land a decisive mental blow.

One man who will definitely cast an eye over Saturday’s tea-time fixture is City chief Roberto Mancini. The Italian will lead his team into battle against Championship side Reading the following day, The Royals having stunned Everton in the previous round when beating the Toffees 1-0 at Goodison Park. This, of course, being the same Reading side which dumped Liverpool out of last season’s competition in the Third Round with a 2-1 victory at Anfield. Will Brian McDermott’s men add Man City and Eastlands to their growing lists of scalps?

Then we have two all-Premiership ties, with Birmingham, the recently crowned Carling Cup champions after beating Arsenal 2-1 at Wembley, entertaining high-flying Bolton Wanderers at fortress St Andrews in the very first clash of the weekend. The Blues have never lifted the FA Cup in their history despite making two finals, whereas Bolton have won the competition no less than four times, their most recent back in 1958.

Stoke City have never even made an FA Cup final before, let alone lift the coveted trophy aloft, so Tony Pulis & Co have their sights set on making history and have been given the ample opportunity to do just that in the form of a quarter-final showdown with fellow top-flighters West Ham. However, the Hammers do have recent experience of an FA Cup final, not that they will want to reminisce  or anything, as they were agonisingly beaten by Liverpool on penalties back in 2006.

So there we have it, the line-up for the Quarter-Finals. The one thing we will say is that no tie is cut-and-dry, Manchester City included. The Citizens were only in action three days previous, making the arduous trip to Eastern Europe to tackle Dynamo Kiev of the Ukraine. Picking a few winners may prove a task-and-a-half,  though the lure of a Semi-Final appearance at Wembley may prove strong enough to ensure replays are kept to a minimum.

FA Cup; Quarter-Finals

Saturday, 12th March

12:45 (GMT) – Birmingham City V Bolton Wanderers
17:15 (GMT) – Manchester United V Arsenal

Sunday, 13th March

14:00 (GMT) – Stoke City V West Ham United
16:00 (GMT) – Manchester City V Reading

2010/2011 FA Cup betting:

Manchester United – 3.25 (9/4) PaddyPower
Manchester City – 3.50 (5/2) Boylesports
Arsenal – 4.50 (7/2) Bet365
Stoke City – 13.00 (12/1) SkyBet
Bolton Wanderers – 17.00 (16/1) Coral
Birmingham City – 17.00 (16/1) StanJames
West Ham United – 23.00 (22/1) StanJames
Reading – 67.00 (66/1) WilliamHill

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