Nottingham Forest vs Birmingham
26th December 1500hrs
Football – England – Championship
Pick Draw
Bookmaker Bet365
Odds: 9/4 odds taken 0300 GMT Thursday 24th December
Nottingham Forest have eased a little pressure with four points having been collected from their last two league games.
They are still only a point outside of the Championship drop zone, however. So they have some work to do.
Forest face Birmingham at home on Boxing Day. This could be a good time for them to be meeting the Blues who have lost their last three.
Table of Contents
Nottingham Forest Preview – Forest to continue recovery?
Four points from their last two games has been huge for Forest. The points came from a win over Sheffield Wednesday and then a draw at Millwall.
Having taken only one point from a run of seven games before getting a victory over then-bottom-side Sheffield Wednesday, that was a much-needed success.
That win moved their home form to W3 D3 L4 this season.
A victory for Nottingham Forest in this one is at 6/5 odds* (odds taken 0300 GMT Thursday 24th December).
All but one of the home points that Forest have collected this season have been against teams who are currently down in the bottom seven along with them.
So given that Birmingham are a few places above them at the moment, this is no gimme for the Tricky Trees.
There has been an average of a goal per home game for Nottingham Forest this season.
They have taken a clean sheet in two of their last three as well.
We would expect this to lean towards being a low scoring game.
Just 30% of Forest’s home games this season in the Championship have made it over 2.5 goals.
Under 2.5 goals for football betting is at 8/15* (odds taken 0300 GMT Thursday 24th December).
Forest have home form going against Birmingham, so that is on their side.
It has been three wins in their last four home fixtures against the Blues (D1) and they scored at least two goals in each of those four games.
The bulk of the goals that Forest have given up at the City Ground this season have been in the first half of matches.
They have been losing at the half time break in half of their home fixtures.
As it stands only three teams have scored more league goals than Forest have done this season in the Championship.
Birmingham Preview – Can the Blues shake off poor form?
The Blues are not arriving in a confident frame of mind having slumped to a three-match losing streak.
That’s four losses in their last six league games now (W2).
But interestingly enough, the two wins in that sequence did happen out on their travels, getting very good wins at Bristol City and Reading.
In their last away game, they were leading at Cardiff with just over ten minutes to go before conceding two late goals.
That left them with a W3 D5 L2 record on their travels in the Championship for this campaign.
A Birmingham win is running at 9/4 odds* (odds taken 0300 GMT Thursday 24th December).
It’s not been the worst away form from them at all.
That loss against Cardiff is the only away defeat that Birmingham have suffered in their last seven away games (W3 D3).
The only other away defeat that has come Birmingham’s way happened against current leaders Norwich.
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Birmingham have averaged under a goal per away game this season though. Home and away combined they are only at an average of 0.85 goals per game.
But they have not been too bad in defence at all, having shipped only 8 goals in their 10 away games.
So we do think that Birmingham will stay in touch with Forest well enough. We would think a point is a reasonable target for the Blues.
Nottingham Forest vs Birmingham Betting Advice
We can see Birmingham picking up a point in this contest as they have held themselves together pretty well on the road this season.
They certainly look strong enough in the defensive department to keep at bay a struggling Nottingham Forest side.
So it is the draw in the match outright that has the most appeal at 9/4* (odds taken 0300 GMT Thursday 24th December).
Key Facts – Nottingham Forest vs Birmingham Betting Tip
- Nottingham Forest have lost five of their last seven league games (W1 D2)
- Nottingham Forest are unbeaten in four at home against the Blues (W3 D1)
- Birmingham have lost their last three league games
We are going to push on from there and look for the obvious 1-1 correct score option which is an 11/2 quote* (odds taken 0300 GMT Thursday 24th December).
Forest still have a lot to prove and a win over Sheffield Wednesday in their last home game doesn’t really prove too much.
Given the run of three straight losses that Birmingham are on, we think they turn up in a bullish mood and scrap out a point.
The best betting odds for Nottingham Forest vs Birmingham
Nottingham Forest to win: 5/4 at Bet365
Draw: 9/4 at Bet365
Birmingham to win: 9//4 at Bet365
