Birmingham City vs Swansea City
2 April 2000hrs
Football – England – Championship
Pick Swansea City
Bookmaker William Hill
Odds: 6/4 odds taken 2000 GMT, Thursday 1 April
Swansea need to get back to winning ways if they are to maintain their hopes of automatic promotion but Birmingham also require points as they bid to stay in the league.
Table of Contents
Birmingham City Preview – Can Lee Bowyer find another big victory to improve his new side’s hopes of staying in the league?
Lee Bowyer spent just over two years of his playing career with Birmingham and he’s now tasked with leading the club to safety having arrived from Charlton last month. The international break probably came at a good time for Bowyer as it allows him to get some time with his new players, implementing his own ideas. He couldn’t have got off to a better start with a 2-1 win at home to Reading but was unable to follow that up when losing heavily away to Watford in match immediately after.
Birmingham are now one place above the relegation zone three points clear of Rotherham, but they have played four games more than them and one match more than Sheffield Wednesday who are six points behind.
The win over Reading is Birmingham’s only win in their last five and just their fourth in their last 21 games. It shows the size of the challenge that Bowyer has on his hands and whilst he would have appreciated the time during the international break, it will be non-stop between now and the end of the season with eight games to play between now and the start of May.
The Easter weekend is as challenging a set of fixtures as Birmingham could have with Brentford to come on Tuesday.
Swansea City Preview – Will Swans return to form after consecutive defeats before the international break?
The agonising exit in last year’s playoffs looms large for Swansea and their head coach Steve Cooper. Especially as the Swans have lost their last two games, falling six points behind Watford in the race for automatic promotion. Cooper will take solace from the fact that his team do have a game in hand but they really need to resume winning ways, starting with this game.
It will have been a hugely frustrating international break for all concerned with Swansea as their last match was a 1-0 loss at home to bitter rivals Cardiff.
Don’t miss out on other Betting Tips & Predictions
Click here for more Betting Tips
Only Norwich have won more away games than Swansea so far this season, with the Welsh club sitting on nine wins from 19 matches on their travels. More recently it’s five wins in eight on the road and they know if they are to overtake Watford and fend off Brentford for second, then that is the sort of return they’ll need in their remaining away games.
The loan signing of Conor Hourihane could yet prove to be a pivotal piece of business for Swansea. The Aston Villa midfielder has already got five goals in 13 league games.
Birmingham City vs Swansea City Betting Advice
These teams are at opposite ends of the table and need points for very different reasons. Birmingham have to start picking up more (it’s just two wins in their last 15 home games) and Bowyer will be stressing that to his players ahead of this one. Swansea’s credentials on the road are there for all to see and they will feel they need a win in this game, especially after losing their last two.
There was nothing to separate the two teams when they met back in September, that match ending in a goalless draw.
Key Facts – Birmingham City vs Swansea City Betting Tip
- Lee Bowyer arrived from Charlton last month with the aim of ensuring Birmingham stay in the Championship
- Swansea now sit six points behind second place Watford but do have a game in hand
- The teams met back in September, which ended in a goalless draw
Birmingham will have more fight under Bowyer but they still lack quality and Swansea remain one of the better teams in this division. The visitors know they need points and I’m taking them to get their 10th away win of the season.
Best Betting Odds for Birmingham City vs Swansea City
