Birmingham v Blackburn Prediction: Entertainment likely in bottom half clash

John Eustace was sacked by Birmingham just four months ago and now returns to face his former club with new side Blackburn. 

Both teams are hovering just above the relegation zone so need to start picking up points if they are to avoid being dragged into the bottom-three dogfight. 

Here we pick out the best bets for Tuesday’s Championship clash, kicking off at 7.45pm. 

Team news 

Jay Stansfield is expected to return to the Birmingham lineup after being rested against Sheffield Wednesday. 

John Ruddy, Dion Sanderson, George Hall and Alfie Change are all expected to miss out through injury for the Blues. 

Harry Pickering and Hayden Carter are absentees for Blackburn, both missing out with hamstring issues.  

Match Odds 

Birmingham can be backed at 6/5 for the victory, while Blackburn are 2/1 outsiders and the draw is available at 5/2.  

Over 2.5 goals is on offer at 4/7, while both teams to score is priced at 1/2 and it is 11/8 for over 1.5 goals in the first half.  

Over 3.5 goals @ 6/4 

There will be plenty of familiar faces in this clash, with John Eustace and Tony Mowbray lining up against their former teams. 

Both sides have been struggling this season. Birmingham have won only two of their last 12 games in all competitions while Blackburn have taken five points from the last 27 available in the Championship. 

Blues are just three points clear of the relegation zone while their opponents are a further four points ahead of them. 

Rovers picked up a 3-1 win over Stoke in their first game since Jon Dahl Tomasson’s departure, one of a number of high-scoring affairs they have been involved in recently. 

Six of Blackburn’s last eight games in all competitions have produced four or more goals and a repeat of that is fancied against a home team who have been leaky recently, conceding six times across their last three matches. 

Only Rotherham have a worse defensive record in the second tier than the visitors, so both teams look likely to play their part in what could be a high-scoring game. 

Side with over 3.5 goals to be scored in this bottom-half clash.   

Jay Stansfield to score at any time @ 13/8 

One of the bright points in a tough season for Birmingham has been striker Jay Stansfield’s performances. 

The youngster has nine goals in all competitions and has been freshened up for this clash having been rested against Sheffield Wednesday last time out. 

Back Stansfield to get on the scoresheet against a Blackburn defence who have conceded 56 times in 30 league games.