Birmingham v Wolves – Pick: Birmingham – 01 May 2011

Premier League Tips

 

BIRMINGHAM CITY v WOLVES
Premier League
Sunday 1st May 2011 – Kickoff 12pm
It’s the second of the second city derbies at St Andrews on Sunday at high noon when Birmingham City take on midlands rivals Wolves in a crucial relegation battle at the bottom section of the league.
Birmingham City will be looking forward to getting back to home advantage at their St Andrews ground following an unhappy away phase which saw them lose 1-3 at Chelsea and then things went from bad to worse when they travelled to Anfield last weekend and came back with their tails between their legs losing 0-5 pretty comprehensively.
This was exactly what they didn’t need as they enter a three game period that the Blues will see as an essential opportunity to escape the relegation threat. A win over their rivals today would see them reach the magical 41 point and almost certain safety. They’ve won their last two home matches back to back against Bolton 2-1 and Sunderland 2-0 which will give them a lot of confidence in front of their home crowd.
Striker Nikola Zigic is an outside chance to play and first choice keeper Ben Foster should again take his place between the sticks despite being substituted at Liverpool last weekend. Obafemi Martins, plus defenders Scott Dann and Martin Jiranek are all almost certainly sidelined.
Blues’ home record stands at 6-7-4 18/19, and I expect that all of the big guns that are available will be starting today such as Jerome, Bentley, Ferguson, Hleb, Larsson and all for this local derby.
Today’s opponents, Wolves, have also suffered recently with heavy defeats at Newcastle United 1-4 and Stoke City 0-3 midweek and have looked a miserable outfit on the road and nothing seems to be going for them. However, none of Mick McCarthy’s men will need any extra motivation for this clash as not only there wis the desire to pull out of the bottom three but a local derby to boot.
Wolves’ away record stands at 2-2-13 12/34 and possess the worst away record in the Premiership which will come as no surprise for regular followers of this great league. They are also on a four match run without a win and despite all the positive propaganda from the Wolves camp recently, you have to wonder if time is running out for them.
Irish duo Kevin Doyle and Stephen Hunt are expected to miss this clash, while striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is a major doubt with a hamstring injury. Steven Fletcher should be fit to play though.
The Verdict: Birmingham now have their destiny in their hands and must make home advantage count here, while Wolves are on a poor run of form and confidence will be low. Both sides will obviously raise their games for this fixture, but I think Blues will just sneak this one – Blues to win 1-0.
Main Pick: Birmingham City @ 2.20 with Ladbrokes