Birmingham City and Bristol City finished separated by just two points in the middle of the Championship table last season but the pair have had contrasting starts to the new campaign.
Blues have opened with an EFL Cup win over Swansea City and a league stalemate with Sheffield United while the Robins have suffered back-to-back defeats against Walsall and Millwall.
Birmingham City v Bristol City Tips Summary
Best Bet - Under 2.5 goals @ 1/1
Alternative Bet - Laurent Tolaj over 2.5 shots @ 5/6
Bet Builder - Birmingham to win, Jay Stansfield to score at any time, over 3 cards @ 9/2
Birmingham City v Bristol City Prediction
Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals @ 1/1
Bristol City have splashed the cash up front this season, bringing in Laurent Tolaj from Plymouth Argyle and Dom Ballard from Leyton Orient.
However, that spending has failed to translate on to the pitch as of yet, as the Robins lost 1-0 to League Two side Walsall in the EFL Cup before going down 2-0 to Millwall in their first Championship game of the season.
They were reduced to 10 men for most of that league contest after Adam Randell was sent off but it’s hard not to be concerned by their tentative start to the campaign.
This is a new-look side and will take some time to come together but they are tough to back at the moment.
They face a Birmingham team who have developed into one of the most solid outfits in the second tier, beating Swansea 1-0 in the cup before playing out a goalless draw with Sheffield United in their league opener.
Ten of the Blues’ last 13 games have gone under 2.5 goals and given the lack of attacking bite which their visitors have shown in the early part of the season, this could be the latest to follow suit.
Alternative Bet: Laurent Tolaj over 2.5 shots @ 5/6
The signing of Laurent Tolaj looks like a smart bit of business for Bristol City, the Swiss striker having scored plenty of goals wherever he has played.
Key to the 24-year-old’s success is his ability to get plenty of shots away and the forward averaged 3.73 per 90 minutes in League One last season.
He is set to lead the line for the Robins in this one and looks a decent bet to go over 2.5 shots.
Birmingham City v Bristol City Bet Builder Tip
Birmingham to win
Jay Stansfield to score at any time
Over 3 cards
Pays 9/2
Birmingham have done most of their best work at home in recent seasons, they recorded 12 of their 17 wins last term at St Andrew’s and can get the better of a slow-starting Bristol City side.
Jay Stansfield remains one of the main danger men in this Blues team and he registered both of their shots on target in last weekend’s goalless draw with Sheffield United. He appears a serious contender to get on the scoresheet on Saturday.
There were four cards in Bristol City’s 2-0 defeat to Millwall and referee Lewis Smith averaged 3.92 yellows last term, so this game could produce four or more cards.
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Key Match Stats
Ten of Birmingham’s last 13 games have gone under 2.5 goals
Bristol City have one win from their last seven road trips
Birmingham took 44 of their 64 points at home last season
Bristol City failed to register a shot on target in their 2-0 defeat to Millwall last time out
Birmingham have won three of the last four meetings between these two at St Andrew’s
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
