Birmingham vs Walsall Prediction: Saddlers can put Blues to the test

Birmingham City and Walsall meet in a rare clash between the two West Midlands clubs at St Andrew's when they begin their EFL Trophy campaigns on Tuesday (19:45).

Blues' drop down to League One this season means they are now part of the lower league clubs taking part in the early regional sections of the competition and they host the Saddlers on Tuesday in the Southern section, Group A, in what is a first competitive meeting between the near neighbours in over 22 years. Read on for my Birmingham vs Walsall prediction, as well as the latest team news and match odds.

Football Odds

Team News

Birmingham quartet Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Willum Thor Willumsson, Alfons Sampsted and Luke Harris are all away on international duty, while the likes of Ethan Laird, Krystian Bielik and Alfie May are expected to be among the first-team regulars given the night off.

Ben Davies and Ayumu Yokoyama could feature as boss Chris Davies will delve into his squad to give some fringe players and youngsters the chance to shine. After a record-breaking move on deadline day, Jay Stansfield could be set for his second Blues debut on Tuesday.

Walsall boss Mat Sadler will likely field as strong a side as possible but he is without injured quartet Donervon Daniels, Priestley Farquharson, Brandon Comley and Danny Johnson, while Liam Gordon, Oisin McEntee and Josh Gordon are all doubts.

Birmingham vs Walsall Odds

Birmingham are the favourites at 4/11 to win the tie at home, visitors Walsall are 11/2 to cause a shock and the draw is available at 18/5.

Over 2.5 goals in the St Andrew’s clash is 1/2 and over 3.5 goals is a 5/4 chance.

Draw (90 minutes) @ 18/5

Birmingham have won this competition twice - in its previous guises as the Leyland Daf and AutoWindscreens Trophy in 1991 and 1995 - and they are the favourites to triumph this season.

Both teams have made good starts to their league campaigns, Blues winning three of their four League One matches to sit third, but only behind Wrexham and Stockport on goal difference, while the Saddlers are second in League Two, a point behind leaders Gillingham, after three victories and one defeat.

It should be an entertaining, open local derby and with both managers likely to make changes, there is an element of uncertainty into how the match will play out. If Blues opt to field a significantly weaker XI and Walsall decide to stick with a more first-choice side, then an even tie could develop, despite the visitors being in the division lower.

Therefore the draw at 90 minutes, which would force a penalty shoot-out with an extra point up for grabs, appeals at 18/5.

Both teams to score - Yes @ 4/6

These two West Midlands sides have the rare extra incentive here to win a lesser-played local derby.

Walsall have already proved to be adept in the cup competitions this season as Sadler's side have dumped Exeter and Huddersfield out of the EFL Cup, and they have only failed to score in one of their six competitive outings in the early weeks of 2024-25.

Blues have also scored in all but one of their games this season - the exception being the 2-0 home defeat to Premier League Fulham in the League Cup - and Chris Davies' men have hit nine goals in total from six matches to suggest they will be more of a free scoring side in the third tier.

Blues will likely dominate possession as they take the game to the visitors but Walsall can be dangerous on the break so it would be a surprise if both teams do not get on the scoresheet on the night.

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