Birmingham vs Bradford Prediction: Blues to book Wembley place

Birmingham City's brilliant season looks set to continue as they target victory over Bradford City in the  semi-finals of the EFL Trophy (20:00, Sky Sports Football). 

Blues, who are nine points clear at the top of League One, can book a trip to Wembley by overcoming the Bantams, who currently sit third in League Two, at St Andrew’s on Tuesday. Below you can find my Birmingham vs Bradford prediction.

Team News

Blues boss Chris Davies has hinted he may continue with the policy of resting some first-team regulars in this competition, despite a Wembley place now being at stake.

Bailey Peacock-Farrell is set to deputise in goal again, while the likes of Keshi Anderson, Tomoki Iwata and Ethan Laird could be rotated onto the bench.

Lyndon Dykes and Jay Stansfield are both being tipped to start, with Luke Harris, Alfie May, Scott Wright and Lukas Jutkiewicz among the hosts’ other plentiful attacking options.

Bradford could also make some changes from the side that drew 0-0 with Newport at the weekend, but Michael Mellon looks set to keep his place in the line-up after impressing in south Wales.

Ciaran Kelly and Andy Cook, however, remain on the sidelines for the visitors.

Birmingham vs Bradford Odds

Birmingham are favourites to win this semi-final at 2/5. Bradford are available at 11/2 to stun the hosts and progress to the final, while a draw at full-time is 3/1.

Over 2.5 goals is on offer at 4/6, with over 3.5 goals a 7/4 chance.

Birmingham to win to nil @ 7/5

Steve Davies' side are well on course to secure an immediate return to the second tier this season but they can also enjoy a big day out at Wembley in a competition the club has won twice previously, under its old guises, back in 1991 and 1995.

Birmingham, who last made it to Wembley in 2011, have been in fine form since the turn of the year, winning nine of their 12 games in all competitions, while their only defeat in that time was a narrow home loss to Premier League Newcastle in the FA Cup.

Up against a Bradford side that are in the division below, albeit riding high in third, a confident Birmingham should have too much on the night as they aim to set up a final clash against either League One promotion rivals Wrexham or current EFL Trophy holders Peterborough United in April.

Blues have won their last two home matches to nil and, in total this season, have triumphed without conceding eight times at St Andrew’s in all competitions.

There stands a great chance of that familiar outcome happening again against the Bantams, who have only managed four goals in their last six games all told.

Under 2.5 goals @ 11/10

While Birmingham are expected to prevail, it may not be a goal-fest at St Andrew’s as nerves could play a part considering what is at stake.

Aside from the dramatic 3-2 FA Cup defeat to Newcastle, only two of Birmingham’s last seven games have featured three goals or more, and it has been more of a case of Davies’ side getting the job done rather than the League One leaders regularly blowing teams away.

Bradford, who have won three of their last four games in all competitions, have been involved in plenty of low-scoring, tight games lately as well.

The Bantams’ last six games have ended either 0-0 or 1-0, with Bradford winning four of them, while they were held to a goalless draw by Newport and lost by just one goal to Wimbledon.

That all points to a low-scoring semi-final in which Blues’ superior quality should eventually tell.

Football Betting Tips from Betfred Insights.