Birmingham vs Lincoln Prediction: Blues to bounce back

Birmingham City were well-beaten on Tuesday - yes that's right - as they lost 3-1 at Bolton Wanderers in League 1. The league leaders' 18-game unbeaten run was ended and they have now suffered their third defeat of the campaign. The Blues will look to get back on track at the first attempt as they welcome Lincoln City to St Andrew's on Saturday (15:00).

The visitors recorded a thumping 4-1 victory at home to Crawley Town in midweek, breaking a two-game losing streak in the process. Lincoln will head to the West Midlands hoping to capitalise on Birmingham's dented confidence, but the hosts remain unbeaten on home turf. Read on for my Birmingham vs Lincoln predictions. including the latest match odds and team news.

Birmingham vs Lincoln Odds

Birmingham have won their past six league games at St Andrew's, and they are 8/15 (which has an implied probability of 65.2%) to get back to winning ways.

They have experienced three draws here against Reading, Northampton Town and Blackpool, while Lincoln have drawn a third (6/18) of their away trips in the third tier. The draw can be backed at 3/1 (25%).

The Imps have won just two of their previous 14 away contests in the league and they are 11/2 to add more misery onto the hosts.

Both teams to score has struck in each of the visitors' last three outings in League 1, as well as in Birmingham's defeat at Bolton on Tuesday. This was also a winning selection in the reverse fixture back in October, in which the Blues triumphed 3-1.

Jay Stansfield is the joint-top scorer in the division with 16 goals and he is 5/4 to score anytime for Birmingham.

Football Odds

Team News

Birmingham felt the pinch of their injury crisis on Tuesday as they sorely missed key players Ethan Laird and Ryan Allsop. Bailey Peacock-Farrell replaced Allsop in goal, conceding three quarters of the goals the latter had managed in the previous 18 league matches.

The lack of wide options in Keshi Anderson and Scott Wright leaves Emil Hansson as the club's only fit winger at the moment, and he will have been boosted by scoring his first league goal at Bolton.

Wright is out for the rest of the season, as is defender Lee Buchanan. Forward Lyndon Dykes is expected to be sidelined until late April.

Jay Stansfield made a return to action on Tuesday in the second half, two weeks after his injury against Bradford City in the semi-finals of the Vertu Trophy. Boss Chris Davies is expected to restore him to the starting XI, likely at the expense of Alfie May, who has gone 13 games without a goal in all competitions.

Lincoln will be boosted by the return of Paudie O'Connor from suspension, and the defender has been one of the best performers in the league this term.

James Collins will continue up front for the Imps, having netted four goals in nine league games since joining the club from Derby County in the winter transfer window.

Jovon Makama took his own goal tally to four in the third tier against Crawley and he's set to retain his place on the right side of the attack against Birmingham.

Birmingham and both teams to score @ 3/1

The Birmingham players were visibly frustrated by Bolton suppressing them in midweek, and I think that was mostly because they were in control for the opening half-hour. As soon as Peacock-Farrell gave the Trotters a gift at the near post for the equaliser, the game changed.

Bolton responded and Birmingham regressed. The Blues looked tired, which is fair because several of the players have played most of the minutes available this season.

It was a setback, as their lead at the summit dropped back down to nine points, but they are still very much in the driving seat for the title. In the two matches they have lost in League 1 this term, they have responded with a victory.

Lincoln were on the receiving end when Charlton Athletic became the first team to beat the league leaders. The defeat to Shrewsbury Town was recently followed by an 18-game unbeaten streak, so it feels like Birmingham will get back on track straight away.

They have been excellent when playing at home and I think they will be able to get past an inconsistent Lincoln side who don't travel well. However, I fancy the Imps to get on the scoresheet because the hosts won't have the calming presence of Allsop in goal.

Jay Stansfield anytime goalscorer @ 5/4

Birmingham lacked ideas at Bolton with the likes of Anderson, Allsop and Laird missing, but Stansfield's return will give them a huge boost against Lincoln. The League 1 record signing has been Blues' main man this term with 16 goals, and he is often the inspiration for his side because of his proficiency in front of goal.

We recently saw an exceptional volley at St Andrew's against Bradford, and the game before that he scored an incredible solo goal when Charlton came to B9. Stansfield will be fired up to help get his team back on the winning trail this weekend, and as has been the common theme this year, I think he will get on the scoresheet.

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