Birmingham vs Derby Prediction: Good price for away goalscorer

Birmingham City are in a bit of a pickle right now. Chris Davies just can’t fix their dreadful away form, and a 3-0 hammering at the hands of Sheffield United did nothing to help their cause. Next up they host Derby County (12:30 GMT, Sky Sports Main Event), looking to get back to winning ways.

Below you can find my Birmingham vs Derby predictions as we search for some joy on Boxing Day. 

Team News

Birmingham are looking slightly short in the full-back areas with Alex Cochrane now injured along with Ethan Laird, and Bright Osasyi-Samuel away at the Africa Cup of Nations. Tomoki Iwata is therefore likely to play at right-back, with Eiran Cashin or Jack Robinson set to fill in at left-back. 

Phil Neumann and Christoph Klarer should continue at centre-back, while Davies is also without the suspended Tommy Doyle, after his red card at Bramall Lane. With Iwata having to play at right-back, Marc Leonard could be in line for a rare start in the middle. 

Kyogo Furuhashi should lead the line in this one, with Patrick Roberts also likely to feature out wide. 

Football Odds

Derby duo Liam Thompson and Bobby Clark struggled in midfield against Portsmouth last time out, so John Eustace will be desperate to throw his captain Lewis Travis back into the mix - although he has only just returned to training after a calf issue. 

“He is going to train this week he has been out for 11 weeks we have to be cautious of that,” Eustace said. Derby are also without Carlton Morris (injured) and Dion Sanderson, who can’t play against his parent club, so Danny Batth or Craig Forsyth could feature at centre-back. 

Today's Football Fixtures

Birmingham vs Derby Odds

Birmingham are priced at 4/5 to win this one, giving them an implied win probability of 55% while Derby are available at 18/5 to take the three points. A draw is 5/2, while over 2.5 goals is 11/10. 

BTTS is 1/1, and Jay Stansfield is the favourite to open the scoring at 4/1. 

BTTS Yes @ 1/1

I think this game will have goals at both ends. Derby have seen both teams score in 16 of their 22 league outings this season, and BTTS have scored in nine of their last 10 in the Championship. 

The only game in which it hasn’t come in for the Rams was the 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday - and with the state the Owls are in right now it wasn’t a surprise to see them draw a blank. Birmingham have plenty of attacking talent and both teams have scored in seven of their last eight games - so I think the price of EVS available here is incredibly generous. 

Patrick Agyemang to score anytime @ 3/1

I am slightly concerned about Birmingham from a defensive standpoint, especially when you take into account the injuries and suspensions they currently have. As a result, I’m fairly confident that Derby will cause them plenty of problems, and so I’ve picked out Patrick Agyemang to score anytime at a big price.

Derby’s big money signing in the summer is now their key man up top with Morris out injured, and he’s scored three goals in his last five outings. I’ve been relatively impressed with him this term, and will back him to find the net at St Andrew’s at a big price. 

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