Birmingham City v Aston Villa
Sunday 10th 1200hrs
Football – England – Championship
Pick Under 2.5 goals
Bookmaker Marathon Bet
Odds: 10/11 (odds taken 18.45 GMT, Friday 8th March)
Somewhat surprisingly it’s Birmingham who sit higher in the table heading into the second city derby but rivals Aston Villa also harbour hopes of finishing in the top six making Sunday’s game one not to be missed.
Championship Betting at Marathon Bet
Birmingham City Preview
Gary Monk continues to do an excellent job at St Andrew’s and his team sit out just outside of the top six heading into the final stages of the season. Birmingham are four points adrift of Bristol City in sixth spot and will feel they can mount a significant challenge to that team as the battle for the playoffs hots up. There have been a couple of disappointments in recent weeks, however, with a loss to Hull last weekend allowing that team to go level on points with them and cluster the race for top six even more. That was only a couple of weeks after losing at home to struggling Bolton, a result they may well look back on with major regret if they fail to move into that top six. It’s been their home form which has prevented them from being in an even better position having managed only one win in their last five attempts. It’s in stark contrast to earlier in the season when St Andrew’s was one of the most difficult venues in the Championship, and that’s something that will have to return if they are to finish the season where they want to be. There is certainly no better team to rediscover their winning home form than against their most bitter of rivals.
Key-Facts – Birmingham City v Aston Villa
- Just two points separate these arch rivals who both have hopes of the playoffs
- Villa won the first meeting of the season, victorious 4-2 at home
- Nine of the last 11 meetings between these two have went under 2.5 goals
Aston Villa Preview
Plenty have tried but nobody has been able to figure out this Aston Villa time. They are the biggest enigma in the Championship – which is some title to hold. A squad that is packed full of talent, arguably full of players who good enough to play for half of the Premier League clubs yet are blighted by inconsistencies everywhere they turn. Steve Bruce was unable to find the winning formula – although he did get them to the playoff final last year – and Dean Smith is also struggling in the time he has been there. There have been games where they have looked scintillating in and other times when they have been terrible. The end result is it’s going to take an improbably finish to the season for them to get into the top six. They head to the home of their arch rivals on Sunday two points worse off, therefore having to make up six on Bristol City in sixth place. It’s not impossible but they have to be able to string a run of wins together, something that has alluded them. Last Saturday’s 4-0 win at home to Derby may well be the spark that’s need for Smith and his players.
Birmingham City v Aston Villa Betting Advice
The last second city derby was one of the games of the Championship season as Villa came back to take all three points with a 4-2 win. The final score flattered the victors that time as it was a game of very small margins. The season has probably not transpired as many would have thought following that match in December with Villa failing to kick on. The visitors can go back ahead of Birmingham with a win on Sunday but equally, a win for the hosts would all but end their opponents season – and they would certainly take great delight in doing so whilst keeping themselves in the playoff picture.
Looking at the respective records of both these teams in recent times provides us with a conundrum. Birmingham have struggled at home of late whilst Villa are on a terrible run of their own away from Villa Park – failing to win any of their last five. I could not pick a winner with any confidence and instead favour the goal markets. The last meeting apart, this is often a derby with few goals. Nine of the last 11 have contained two or fewer goals. Combine that with five of Birmingham’s last seven home matches and five of Villa’s last six away games following a similar trend, under 2.5 goals is the selection.
