Bristol Rovers vs Birmingham Prediction: Blues have promotion in their sights

Birmingham City will look to take another step closer to promotion from League 1 when they make the trip to the Memorial Stadium to face Bristol Rovers on Tuesday (20:00, Sky Sports Main Event). The Blues are nine points clear of Wrexham in second with two games in hand over the Red Dragons.

Bristol Rovers are currently six points clear of the relegation zone but they head into this clash off the back of three consecutive defeats. Read on for my Bristol Rovers vs Birmingham predictions, where you will also find the latest team news and match odds.

Football Odds

Team News

Bristol Rovers boss Inigo Calderon may be tempted to reinstate Scott Sinclair to the attack after the winger was dropped down to the bench for Saturday's clash with Mansfield Town.

The Pirates' top scorer, Isaac Hutchinson, was also demoted at the weekend with Gatlin O'Donkor taking his place. Calderon may switch the two around again in midweek, but Hutchinson could also be set for a deeper role if the Spanish coach opts to have them both on the pitch.

Forward Ruel Sotiriou has five goals this term in League 1 and he is set to continue leading the line for the hosts.

Lyndon Dykes (calf), Lee Buchanan and Scott Wright (both knee) are long-term absentees for Birmingham. Top scorer Jay Stansfield was fit to start against Shrewsbury after he was sent back from England Under-21s duty early.

Paik Seung-ho was absent from the squad on Saturday after he picked up a knock while on international duty with South Korea. Boss Chris Davies said the midfielder should be fine  to feature in the Vertu Trophy final against Peterborough United on April 13.

Taylor Gardner-Hickman has been missing for the past three league games but he too is expected to return to the squad imminently.

Marc Leonard gave an excellent performance playing next to Tomoki Iwata last time out, and this partnership looks likely to continue at the Memorial Stadium.

Stansfield was not on the scoresheet against Shrewsbury as the Blues racked up four goals but fellow forward Alfie May ended his 16-game goal drought across all competitions with a brace from the bench.

Davies may be tempted to hand May a start in Bristol now that the veteran has his confidence back. If he wishes to freshen things up in attack, we could also see Emil Hansson come in for Keshi Anderson.

Bristol Rovers vs Birmingham Odds

Bristol Rovers have lost three games on the spin and they are facing a side who have lost just three games all season in the third tier. The Pirates are 7/1 to prevail on Tuesday night.

Two of Birmingham's past three away trips have ended in a stalemate, which can be backed at 18/5. The Blues have won three of their previous four games coming into this contest, and they are 2/5 to claim the three points.

Five of their previous seven victories in the league have seen them keep a clean sheet. They are 11/10 to win to nil, which has an implied probability of 47.6%.

Both teams to score has landed in nine of Bristol Rovers' last 10 matches and is on offer at 1/1 on Tuesday.

Birmingham and both teams to score @ 11/5

Birmingham are in the final stretch of their quest to return to the Championship at the first attempt and it looks like they are only a couple of weeks away from securing promotion.

Of course, Davies and his players want to go one further and win the title, which may also be wrapped up soon if Wrexham and Wycombe Wanderers continue to struggle to keep up with them.

The Blues were on form at the weekend and they could have easily scored more goals as they created so many good chances. As they build up to their trip to Wembley next weekend, Birmingham will want to build as much momentum as they can.

Against a side that has suffered three defeats in a row, they should fancy their chances to pick up another three points, especially with the quality they possess in attacking areas.

However, I think we will see the hosts get on the scoresheet as BTTS has struck in nine of their last 10 home games in the third tier. And for all of Birmingham's dominance against Shrewsbury, the struggling side still managed to grab a consolation goal late on.

Alfie May anytime goalscorer @ 23/20

A huge weight was lifted off this man's shoulders at the weekend as he ended a streak of 16 games without a goal and the brace will have restored his confidence ahead of what is going to be a ferocious fixture period for Birmingham.

Despite going so long without a goal, May has now racked up 12 goals in the league and is just six shy of the leading marksman Richard Kone. May was the Golden Boot winner last year and now that his drought has ended, you feel there are more goals to be had in the final weeks of the campaign.

Bristol Rovers have one of the leakiest defences in the league with 63 goals conceded, and I believe a poacher like May can further add to their woes.

Offers

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