Crawley Town vs Birmingham City Prediction: Blues target Christmas Day top spot

Birmingham City pay a visit to Broadfield Stadium on Monday evening as they look to take themselves to the top of the League One table in time for Christmas, although relegation-threatened Crawley have proven a tough nut to crack over the past month or so.

Football Odds

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Long-term absentee Dion Conroy remains the only injury problem for Crawley Town boss Rob Elliot, with joint-top scorer Will Swan expected to lead the line again for the hosts.

Birmingham are waiting on the fitness of Emil Hansson and Scott Wright as they look to return to action, although Chris Davies could field the same starting line-up that beat Bristol Rovers 2-0 last time out.

Match Odds, Crawley Town vs Birmingham City

Birmingham City are 2/5 favourites to take all three points from Broadfield Stadium, with Crawley an outside shot at 7/1 and 18/5 on offer for the spoils to be shared.

Goals look to be on the agenda, too, with over 2.5 goals priced at 8/13 and both teams to score at 5/6.

Birmingham to win & both teams to score @ 15/8

Birmingham head into the final game before Christmas two points off top spot in League One with two games in hand on Wycombe above them, and they could steal the summit with a win over the admittedly improving Crawley on Monday.

The Blues have won their last six games in all competitions and are on a four-match winning streak away from home, while their defeat to Shrewsbury in November was just their second away loss of the season.

All being told, they have collected 19 points from a possible 27 on their travels, and Crawley have lost on four occasions at Broadfield this season.

The Reds have scored nine goals in their last four at home, though, and they can get on the scoresheet against a Blues defence that have conceded in five of their last six league away days.

Bet Builder - Over 2.5 goals & Jay Stansfield to score anytime @ 7/5

Crawley’s last three competitive games have produced a gigantic 17 goals and three or more goals have been scored in five of their last six home matches, so expect plenty of goalmouth action against a visiting side who have seen over 2.5 goals land in four of their last five on the road.

Blues attacker Jay Stansfield is expected to be a contributor to Monday’s potential goal-fest as the 22-year-old looks for his 11th league goal of the season.

Stansfield has only featured in 13 of Birmingham’s League One outings, but his goal against Bristol Rovers last time out made it six in his last six and he has only failed to find the net in one of those.

Football Betting Tips, from Betfred Insights.