Charlton vs Birmingham Prediction: The Blues to progress

Charlton Athletic entertain their League 1 rivals Birmingham City on Tuesday (19:45, Sky Sports+) at The Valley in the first round of the Carabao Cup. The Addicks head into this match off the back of a 1-0 win at Wigan Athletic in their league opener, while the Blues had to salvage a draw at home to Reading.

This game will provide an opportunity for the two managers to get a better look of their fringe players, and there will be determination from both to progress to the second round. Read on for my Charlton vs Birmingham prediction, featuring match odds and team news.

Charlton vs Birmingham Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main Charlton vs Birmingham page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.

Charlton are 12/5 to win this match in 90 minutes, giving them an implied probability of 29.4%. Birmingham are valued at 21/20, which gives them a theoretical chance of 48.8%. If you think this tie will be settled on penalties, the draw can be backed at 12/5 (29.4%).

Both teams to score is on offer at 8/13, with this market landing in their last meeting back in 2020. Over 2.5 goals is available at 8/11, but it has not been a winning selection in the last five meetings between the two sides.

Football Odds

Team News

Charlton striker Miles Leaburn remains out injured, but boss Nathan Jones has plenty of reinforcements in the likes of Matty Godden, Chuks Aneke, Tyreece Campbell and Gassan Ahadme, with the latter two starting at Wigan.

Ashley Maynard-Brewer, Rarmani Edmonds-Green and Thierry Small were the only members of the Addicks squad at the weekend to not gain any minutes, so they could be in for some game time on Tuesday.

Birmingham's squad depth could come into play on Tuesday and Chris Davies might want a closer look at those who missed out against Reading. Young talents George Hall and Romelle Donovan are likely to be in the squad, and there could also be a place for new signings Ayumu Yokoyama and Alfons Sampsted.

Austrian defender Christoph Klarer is likely to come in the side for either Dion Sanderson or captain Krystian Bielik. Veteran forward Lukas Jutkiewicz could be given a run out so that former Charlton man Alfie May can be rested, but the striker could still feature at his old stomping ground.

Ryan Allsop is likely to start in goal and Fulham loanee Luke Harris could be handed his first start for the club.

Birmingham to win in 90 minutes @ 21/20

Birmingham were given an eye-opening welcome to League 1 against Reading as they had to settle for a point in their first game. The Blues were second best in the first half but did put together some nice passages of play which continued in the second half after they went a goal down just before the break.

It was their cutting edge in the final third that let them down, which Davies will hope to see an improvement of on Tuesday night. Emil Hansson and Keshi Anderson's introduction in the second half played a pivotal part in the comeback, with the former's cross winning the penalty that was converted by May late on.

Their squad depth is likely to be much stronger than Charlton's if both teams are rotating, and I think that will be enough for the Blues to get the attacking response they need to get through to the second round, as well as raise their confidence for their trip to Wycombe Wanderers at the weekend.

Alfie May anytime goalscorer @ 13/10

All aboard the narrative train. How many times do we see this happen where the former star returns to his old club and scores? It's beyond count, and that is what I'm expecting from May at The Valley on Tuesday, regardless of if he starts or not.

It may have been a penalty to open his league account for the Blues on Saturday but the front man will be delighted to get up and running straight away. He was also prolific in pre-season, with five goals in six outings, so he returns to south-east London in excellent form.

The Addicks will know all too well the danger he poses, but I don't think they will be able to stop him. I'm backing him to score anytime in this contest to make it two in two for the new term.

Offers

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