Birmingham City v Mansfield Town: Prediction, Tips and Odds

While Birmingham City could be forgiven for taking their foot off the gas given that not only has promotion long-since been secured, the League One title has been guaranteed as well.

However, there are still targets to aim for going into their last three games and that spells bad news for a Mansfield Town team who are at least safe now.

The Stags go to St Andrew's Park in the champions' final home assignment of what has been a dominant season.

Birmingham City v Mansfield Town betting tips and predictions

Birmingham City to win and both teams to score - 9/4

City may have achieved their primary targets this season - achievements that should guarantee an electric atmosphere at St Andrew's on Sunday in the final home game of the season - but the job is not yet over as they can write their names in the history books.

The Blues have already set club records for both points and wins in a single season, but they can still finish with the best-ever points tally in the third tier.

The current record of 103 belongs to Wolves from 2013/14, while they could also break the 106-point record in an English professional season set by Reading in 2005/06.

Chris Davies' men can also post a new benchmark of wins in the third tier, knocking local rivals Aston Villa, who registered 32 in 1971/72, off their perch.

Given that Birmingham have won 18 of their 22 home games in what has been an unbeaten campaign at St Andrew's in League One so far, it would take a brave man to expect 19th-placed Mansfield to put a dent in the Blues' charge to immortality - although that is reflected in the match prices.

The Stags had made a promising if erratic start to the season but a play-off push was not a forlorn hope coming into this calendar year.

However, since winning 2-1 at Stockport County on January 4th, Nigel Clough's men have won just two of the next 20 games while losing 13 to slip alarmingly close to the relegation zone.

The Stags have just done enough to avoid a return to League Two, but it is difficult to make a case for them winning on Sunday.

They have lost four of their last five games - including a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Reading last time out - despite having held the Blues to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture back in October.

However, they can at least get on the scoreboard with scoring not an issue in their recent slump, as they have registered in each of their last seven games, which includes goals against play-off hopefuls Charlton Athletic, Leyton Orient and Reading, as well as Huddersfield Town and Rotherham United.

Although the Blues have kept two clean sheets in their last three games, looking a little deeper, they have enjoyed a shutout in only three of their last 11 games.

That includes goals for bottom-eight sides Northampton Town, Shrewsbury Town, Bristol Rovers, Peterborough United and Burton Albion, while The Posh also won at Wembley.

The hosts should ultimately have too much quality to take another step towards the record books, but Mansfield can at least make a game of it by getting on the scoreboard.

Over 2.5 Goals - 8/11

Goals look almost a certainty in this fixture and 8/11 is great value for there to be over 2.5 given the match situation and the difference in class between the two sides.

The Blues could be forgiven for not quite being at it in their last home encounter when held to a goalless draw by Crawley Town as it came a matter of days after their Wembley disappointment, but their three previous St Andrew's clashes yielded 16 goals in total with 2-1, 4-1 and 6-2 scorelines.

Mansfield have been involved in some high-scoring games of their own of late, albeit on the wrong end of most, with at least three goals scored in each of their last seven, while the most recent three have seen a total of 16.

Over 2.5 looks a solid enough play and is well worth considering, although seeing at least four may also tempt a few at bigger odds of 7/4.

Jay Stansfield to score anytime - 20/21

Although Jay Stansfield is not enjoying his most productive spell of the season, he is worth backing to find the back of the net on Sunday in a game which is expected to have plenty of goals.

The 22-year-old has scored three goals in his last six league appearances but has 24 in 43 for the season and, with 19 coming in League One action, he has the motivation to finish as the top scorer in the division, needing two to close the gap on Orient's Charlie Kelman.

The fact he only made a late cameo against Stevenage on Thursday suggests he has been kept as fresh as possible for the St Andrew's finale and of course he will also be on penalty duty, so can play his part in the Blues' home send-off.

Read more football betting tips and predictions on site.

Birmingham City v Mansfield Town odds

Birmingham City - 1/2
Draw - 31/10
Mansfield Town - 5/1

View the full market and more odds for Birmingham City v Mansfield Town on site.

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.