Birmingham vs Port Vale Prediction: Blues’ Carabao Cup fortunes to change

Birmingham City entertain Port Vale at St. Andrew's on Tuesday (19:45, Sky Sports+) for the second round of the Carabao Cup. The Blues dispatched Sheffield United here in the previous round, while the Valiants were 1-0 victors at Blackpool to set up this tie.

Below you will find my Birmingham vs Port Vale predictions, aided by the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Birmingham remain without long-term absentee Lee Buchanan due to a serious knee injury that will keep him out of action until around the New Year. Fellow left-back Alex Cochrane was omitted from the squad that defeated Oxford United in the Championship on Saturday, having picked up a knock a week prior at Blackburn Rovers.

Wide man Scott Wright is also recovering from a knee issue of his own, having been sidelined for several months.

Football Odds

If he were to be absent again, we may see Ethan Laird continue on the left side of the defence, with Bright Osayi-Samuel at right-back. However, boss Chris Davies may hand opportunities to some of the fringe players and those who are currently in the shop window.

Taylor Gardner-Hickman was deployed at right-back a handful of times last season and he may be considered for this role to give one of the main options a rest ahead of a tough trip to Leicester City in the league on Friday.

Alfons Sampsted is another but it seems like the club are trying to find a solution for his future in this transfer window, with loan and permanent moves to be considered for the Iceland international.

Davies may use this cup game as an opportunity to hand minutes to summer signings Kanya Fujimoto and Marvin Ducksch, who are yet to make their debuts for the Blues.

Port Vale have a fully-fit squad available for the trip to Birmingham, but boss Darren Moore may be tempted to make changes to the side that lost to Doncaster Rovers in League 1 at the weekend.

Goalkeeper Marko Marosi might start between the sticks instead of Joe Gauci, while Jayden Stockley could get the nod to feature alongside Ben Waine in a strike partnership, instead of Mo Faal.

Birmingham vs Port Vale Odds

Birmingham are unbeaten in four matches across all competitions this season and they are the 2/5 favourites to win this tie in 90 minutes. You can get an improved 5/4 (implied probability of 44.4%) price for them to win to nil, which they managed here at the weekend against Oxford.

Port Vale drew their last away match, which came at Burton Albion in League 1, and the stalemate is on offer at 18/5. The Valiants are 7/1 to land another away win in the Carabao Cup.

Three of the hosts' four games this term across all competitions have seen both teams get on the scoresheet. BTTS is marketed at 1/1 on this occasion.

Blues' forward Jay Stansfield has scored three goals in those four matches and he heads the anytime goalscorer market at 11/10, while Mo Faal leads the way for the visitors at 9/2.

Birmingham to win to nil @ 5/4

I correctly tipped Birmingham to beat Oxford to nil at the weekend. Clean sheets were a big part of their record-breaking campaign in League 1 last term and after three games without one in the new season, it felt like one was overdue.

The U's barely threatened their goal, which was also the case when Sheffield United and Ipswich visited earlier in the month. The Blades managed just one touch in Birmingham's box, while the Tractor Boys' only shot on target against the Blues came from George Hirst's equalising penalty.

Davies and his players have made St. Andrew's a fortress and Saturday marked 27 consecutive league fixtures unbeaten on home soil. This is going to be a very tough test for Port Vale, who are yet to secure three points in the third tier this campaign.

Their only triumph came in the last round of the cup, but Birmingham is a much tougher place to visit than Blackpool right now. I think the Valiants will try to be competitive but even with some rotation, there is still lots of quality in Birmingham's squad.

I think they should have more than enough to record a routine victory in B9 and I believe they can post a second consecutive clean sheet in the process.

This would also end nine consecutive seasons in which Birmingham have failed to reach the third round of this competition. Who did they meet the last time they reached that stage? Aston Villa, 10 years ago.

Kyogo Furuhashi anytime goalscorer @ 23/20

Birmingham forward Kyogo Furuhashi is in need of a confidence boost. The former Celtic man has opened up his Blues account, netting early doors against Sheffield United in the first round of the Carabao Cup, but he could've easily had a hat-trick.

The 30-year-old squandered a number of opportunities in that game, while missing two more against Oxford at the weekend. Following his failed move to Rennes in January, which meant he went a long time without consistent game time, there is a sense of rustiness about his play.

However, he is making excellent runs and getting into the right positions so there is no doubt that the goals will come as he regains his sharpness. Davies may consider starting him again on Tuesday to help make that happen and get him back on the scoresheet.

His movement should cause all sorts of problems for the Valiants and I think this would be the perfect opportunity for him to get his second goal and get some confidence back.

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