Birmingham vs Swansea Prediction: All eyes on Mowbray’s first game in charge of Blues

Tony Mowbray is set to take charge of his first game since being appointed as Birmingham City manager. The chocolate-loving football purist took over the reins at St Andrew's on Monday to succeed Wayne Rooney. First up for the veteran coach is a clash against Swansea City on Saturday afternoon (15:00).

Luke Williams will also be overseeing his first league game in charge of the Swans, after getting his tenure off to a bright start with a 2-0 victory over Morecambe in the FA Cup at the Swansea.com Stadium.

This is certainly one of the games to keep an eye on in the second tier this weekend.

Match Odds

Birmingham are EVS to get the Mowbray era off to the perfect start with a win. The Swans are 11/5 to take the spoils, while a draw, which was the result when these two sides met on the opening day of the season, can be backed at 12/5.

Both teams to score is valued at 4/6. Over 2.5 goals is priced at 8/11.

Team News

Mowbray will have to contend with some injuries when selecting his squad for the weekend. Marc Roberts (calf), Ethan Laird (hip), George Hall (hamstring) and Alfie Chang (knee) are all ruled out.

Swansea are still without the services of Steven Benda, Harrison Ashby and Josh Ginelly, who are all in the treatment room.

Jay Stansfield to score anytime @ 15/8

In the one game played since Rooney left the club, Birmingham looked a lot more organised and threatening as they drew 1-1 at Hull City in the FA Cup on Saturday, under the charge of caretaker boss Steve Spooner.

The Blues had several chances to score more than just once and forward Jay Stansfield had a handful of chances himself. The Fulham loanee is Birmingham's top scorer in the Championship this term with seven goals to his name so far.

He, like many of his team mates, struggled to maintain their early season form during Rooney's brief stint in charge, and he had been linked with a loan switch to promotion-chasing Ipswich Town in the January transfer window. There is still time for something to happen there, but he is the type of player that Mowbray will be delighted to be working with, and the feeling should be mutual.

Stansfield has been showing the division that he's a natural finisher with some of the goals he has scored for Birmingham. He is going to be key for Mowbray if his side are going to climb the table.

We fancy him to help baptise the Mowbray era at Birmingham this Saturday.

Birmingham to win @ EVS

It's been a while since we have felt positive about Birmingham's chances of getting three points on the board but that is what having someone like Mowbray at the helm will do.

The job he did at Sunderland in his previous post was exceptional and he was harshly dismissed by the Black Cats in December. After delivering the play-offs at the Stadium of Light last year, he is expected to turn the Blues' fortunes around quickly.

He and his players will be raring to go for his first home game, and there is sure to be a positive atmosphere around the stadium as his appointment has been most welcome by the St Andrew's faithful.

No matter how poor the team were under his predecessor, there is a talented group of players for him to work with, as evidenced by their strong start under John Eustace. Mowbray will set them up to be aggressive, organised and will allow the attacking players to play with freedom in and around the final third.

Swansea won't be an easy first opponent, especially under a new boss of their own, but we fancy the home advantage to come into play here. Blues win.

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