Birmingham vs Leyton Orient Prediction: Home advantage to play its part for Blues

Birmingham City suffered a rare blank in front of goal on Saturday as they were held to a goalless draw at Reading in League 1. Many of their players looked tired throughout the performance which will give Chris Davies a lot to think about ahead of their meeting with Leyton Orient at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park on Tuesday (19:45).

The visitors were beaten by Bolton Wanderers last time out, so they too will be looking for improvement here. They have a tough task ahead of them, though, as the league leaders are yet to taste defeat at home in the third tier. Read on for my Birmingham vs Leyton Orient prediction, including the latest match odds and team news.

Birmingham vs Leyton Orient Odds

Birmingham have won each of their last four home matches in League 1, so there is value to be had in backing them to win at 8/13, which has an implied probability of 61.9%.

The Blues have suffered three draws on home soil this campaign and experienced a stalemate in Berkshire last time out. The draw is priced at 11/4.

Leyton Orient have won five of their previous seven away trips in the third tier and they are 9/2 to inflict a first home defeat upon the table-toppers.

Both teams to score has been a winning selection in the O's past three league fixtures and 11/10 (47.6%) is the enticing price for this market to strike in the West Midlands.

Charlie Kelman is Leyton Orient's top goalscorer in the league with 11 goals this season. The forward has scored in his side's last three league outings and he is 18/5 to continue his hot streak on Tuesday.

Football Odds

Team News

Blues boss Davies has had a rough week in terms of injuries. After losing star man Jay Stansfield in last Tuesday's Vertu Trophy semi-final victory over Bradford City, he has since lost fellow front man Lyndon Dykes and winger Scott Wright, with both picking up issues on Reading's bobbly pitch.

Alfie May, who has not scored across his last nine matches in all competitions, is left as the main choice up top, while veteran Lukas Jutkiewicz looks set to return to the squad as the main understudy.

In light of Wright's absence, Emil Hansson looks set for a return to action after a recent two-month spell out. The Swede would likely operate on the left flank, while Keshi Anderson, who did come off with a knock on Saturday, would switch to the right if fit to feature.

Anderson was one of the players who looked noticeably tired on Saturday, so he could be limited to a spot on the bench here if available, which might lead to Willum Willumsson occupying the right side of the attack.

The versatile Taylor Gardner-Hickman may come into the midfield for one of Tomoki Iwata or Paik Seung-ho. Left-back Alex Cochrane looks in need of a rest but January signing Lee Myung-jae doesn't appear closer to match action.

Marc Leonard remains out of action as the deep cut he picked up against Newcastle United on February 8 continues to heal.

For Leyton Orient, defender Brandon Cooper is a doubt to play after he was forced off at Bolton with a problem in the second half. Should he miss out, Jayden Sweeney (left-back) looks likely to partner Rarmani Edmonds-Green, their only fit centre-back, in defence.

The O's are going through an injury crisis right now and boss Richie Wellens looks set to be without a number of players for their trip to B9. Defender Dan Happe is out with a hip flexor issue, while Cooper's injury from the weekend could make matters worse at the back.

Birmingham and both teams to score @ 3/1

Birmingham didn't give their best performance at Reading but even when they're not at their best, they still find a way to get results. The Royals have provided them two of their toughest tests this season and two points is a respectable return all things considered.

A big week lies ahead of them now. They face one of the form sides in the division in Leyton Orient, before battling second-placed Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday. Tuesday's clash with the O's is one of their two games in hand on Wycombe, so in the grand scheme of things, it's a huge game for Davies' men.

The Birmingham manager is likely to add some fresh legs to the team here, which he can currently do better than that of his counterpart Wellens. The visitors have improved greatly since the reverse fixture in August, which Birmingham won 2-1, and they will provide more of a threat to the Blues.

However, Birmingham's home record cannot be ignored. St Andrew's has been a fortress, and more often than not the Blues find a way to win when they play here. It's for that reason that I'm backing the hosts to record another triumph on home turf.

That being said, I do see Leyton Orient getting in on the goalscoring action because they have blanked in just two of their last 13 matches in League 1, and BTTS has struck in each of their past three outings in the third tier.

Alfie May anytime goalscorer @ 7/5

Birmingham striker May has had his ups and downs this season. When he arrived at the club in the summer he was the clear leading man in attack, having won the Golden Boot last season with Charlton Athletic.

He started brilliantly, with four goals in as many games for the Blues, but as soon as Stansfield signed, May's momentum was halted. Davies tried to work both into his system but it wasn't to be. The team is better served with one of them in the XI and as the striker. More often than not it has been Stansfield because he can create goals out of nothing.

That being said, May has still found a way to reach double figures for goals in League 1 and his total currently stands at 10. With Stansfield and Dykes out of action, he is set for a consistent run of starts, which may be exactly what is needed for his early season form to return.

May struck the opener when these two sides met back in August, and against a defence that is plagued with injuries, I fancy him to profit against Leyton Orient again.

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