Birmingham vs Leicester Prediction: Fired-up Foxes can avoid another defeat

Midlands rivals Birmingham City and Leicester City clash in a crunch Championship showdown at St Andrew's on Saturday (15:01 GMT). Birmingham are almost unbeatable at their own ground, while Leicester are in freefall with caretaker Andy King hoping to stop the rot after replacing axed Marti Cifuentes.

Below are my Birmingham City vs Leicester City predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Right-back Tomoki Iwata looks like missing out for Birmingham after damaging his hip in last week's 2-0 win at Oxford.

Further forward, Carlos Vicente can expect a first start following his move from Alaves, having looked lively off the bench at the Kassam Stadium on his debut.

Leicester will hope to field one or two of their new arrivals, among them centre-back Jamaal Lascelles from Newcastle, Jamaica international striker Dujuan Richards from Chelsea and ex-Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo.

Defender Caleb Okoli is banned, and midfielder Hamza Choudhury is sidelined by injury.

Birmingham vs Leicester Odds

Birmingham have only lost once at home in the Championship this season, so no surprise they get an 8/11 quote for this assignment. Leicester, without a win in four, are 18/5 with the draw an 11/4 poke.

Both teams have scored in each of the Blues' last seven at home, and that's a 4/5 chance, while four of their last five at St Andrew's have ended 1-1. That correct score is available at 6/1.

Draw or Leicester City Double Chance @ 21/20

Grounds for optimism at Leicester are slim, but there is just enough to compel a swim against the tide this weekend by backing the draw or Foxes' double chance at 21/20.

First, Birmingham have drawn four of their last five at St Andrew’s, and while they don't lose at home, they aren't putting sides away easily.

Then there's Leicester's recent record against Birmingham - seven straight wins culminating in August's 2-0 victory at The King Power.

There is the possibility of a new-manager bounce following the exit of the unlamented Cifuentes. King lost his first game in charge, 2-0 at home to Charlton, but his side were down to 10 men after 15 minutes, so not too much was learned there.

And then there is the glut of new faces King and the board have persuaded to clamber aboard their sinking ship, one or two of whom could really shine, especially Lascelles. And Leicester need tightening up.

Birmingham are rightly firm favourites, but Leicester, even struggling, are probably being under-rated.

Over 37.5 Booking Points @ 5/6

There were six yellow cards when these Midlands rivals met in Leicester in August, and there are good reasons to believe they can at least match that in the return.

Birmingham, who have had four red cards this season, the most in the division, average 22.7 booking points per game, while Leicester average 21.2.

Caleb Okoli's red card against Charlton last weekend was Leicester's third of the season.

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