Blackpool vs Birmingham Prediction: Blues can make more history

Birmingham City were presented with the League 1 trophy on Sunday after a 4-0 thrashing of Mansfield Town, securing themselves a record 105 points in the third tier in the process. They travel to Bloomfield Road to face Blackpool on Wednesday (19:45, Sky Sports+) for their penultimate match, as they chase down a couple more records. 

The Tangerines are winless in their previous two fixtures in the league but they did take a point from the Blues in the reverse fixture back in December. Read on for my Blackpool vs Birmingham predictions, alongside the latest team news and match odds.

Football Odds

Team News

Lee Evans scored from the penalty spot to earn Blackpool a point against Wigan Athletic on Saturday and he should keep his place in the side for the visit of the champions.

There has been a growing need for goals with Jordan Rhodes going out on loan to Mansfield in the winter transfer window. Ashley Fletcher currently has 11 in the league for the hosts - and he did cause Birmingham some problems when they met earlier in the season.

He was partnered up top by Niall Ennis and this looks likely to continue on Wednesday. CJ Hamilton and Rob Apter provided the width in Wigan and both are expected to keep their places in the team.

Josh Onomah returned to the squad on Saturday following a spell on the sidelines, making a second-half cameo against Wigan. Steve Bruce may consider handing the midfielder a start on Wednesday. Andy Lyons remains confined to the treatment room, however.

Birmingham make the trip to FY1 without long-term absentees Lyndon Dykes (calf), Lee Buchanan and Scott Wright (both knee). Emil Hansson has been absent from the past eight squads across all competitions.

Newly-crowned League 1 Manager of the Year Chris Davies named a strong XI against Mansfield on Sunday and there may be room for some rotation in midweek, which could present opportunities for the likes of Alfie May, Taylor Gardner-Hickman, Marc Leonard and Alfons Sampsted.

Veteran forward Lukas Jutkiewicz announced he will retire from football at the end of term, and he was given a touching send-off in his final appearance at St Andrew's on Sunday with the trophy presentation. The 36-year-old may be hoping for some more minutes on Wednesday.

Blackpool vs Birmingham Odds

Blackpool have won three of their last five league matches at home and they are 13/5 to come away with the victory here.

Four of their past 10 have ended in stalemates and the draw is also marketed at 13/5.

Birmingham have triumphed on their previous five road trips in League 1, and they are 1/1 to collect the three points that would give them the record points total in EFL history.

Both teams to score has been a successful bet in each of Blackpool's last four outings in the third tier, and BTTS is on offer at 8/11 on this occasion.

Birmingham's Jay Stansfield has 19 goals for the season and he is two goals behind Leyton Orient's Charlie Kelman in the race for the Golden Boot. He is the 7/5 favourite to score anytime on Wednesday.

Birmingham to win @ 1/1

With the League 1 points record secured, the Blues now have their sights on the record for the whole EFL, which was set by Reading (106) in the 2005/06 Championship season.

A victory at Blackpool would take Birmingham to 108 this term and would put them in the record books for the second time in a week. Against Mansfield, the champions delivered a dominant free-flowing performance, which demonstrated the players are still battling to make history.

Another record the Blues can break is the most wins in an EFL season, which is currently held by Doncaster Rovers (33) from the 1946/47 Third Division North campaign. Birmingham have amassed 32 victories so far so one more would tie the record, and two would see them claim it for themselves.

Blues travel to already-relegated Cambridge United on the final day, who they dispatched 4-0 in the reverse fixture back in February. These records are certainly attainable and with the high standards set by this team over the course of the year, you feel as though they won't settle for anything less.

Blackpool will try to spoil the party but seeing as they have nothing riding on the last two matches of the season. I'm going for the Blues to seal win number 33.

Over 2.5 goals @ 10/11

Over 2.5 goals has been a frequent winning selection for Blackpool this season as they rank second in the League 1 table for this particular statistic. It has struck in 66% (29/44) of their matches this term, as well as in 71% (16/23) of their contests at Bloomfield Road.

Five of the Tangerines' previous six battles in the third tier have produced three or more goals, while this has also been a successful bet in each of their past five home outings.

Over 2.5 goals has landed in three of Birmingham's last four trips in League 1 and they head into Wednesday off the back of a ruthless 4-0 display against Mansfield. I think goals are worth backing here, and Blackpool could wind up playing their part in this selection.

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