Birmingham vs Barnsley Predictions

A tough spell for the Blues has left them slipping down the table, but will they make the most of this clash with a newly promoted side to turn things around? Meanwhile, this could be a chance for Barnsley to get up and running on the road this term. However, they would see a point in this trip as progress, while that would be par for the course for a Birmingham outfit who have drawn six of their last nine matches at this level, winning just three of their last five league games.

Birmingham have been a side linked with the drop all season, with their poor summer carrying over to a slow start. While they got off and running with a 1-0 win at Brentford, that wasn’t a great display and it has been followed by two defeats and a draw. Heavy 3-0 losses on the road to Portsmouth and Nottingham Forest show the extent of their problems, while they aren’t even up and running at home yet after drawing 1-1 here with Bristol City. Will we get another draw for the Blues at St Andrew’s, or can they turn their season around here?

Barnsley have matched Birmingham’s record of four points from three games, but the newly-promoted side have a more positive feel around them, despite also losing 3-0 in the Carabao Cup. The Tykes have come up and made great strides at home, extending their unbeaten record at Oakwell from their League One campaign. Their single away game brought a 2-0 loss at Sheffield Wednesday, but they face a slightly easier task when they make the trip to the Second City.

The Tykes will come into this one aiming to follow up a five-game unbeaten streak against Birmingham. While they’re also winless in three, it’s likely to be a game which Daniel Stendel is targeting for a result. He said he was pleased with his side picking up a point against Charlton at home at the weekend, so he’d likely be impressed with his team landing their first point on the road with a draw in this clash.

Barnsley may take a little while to get up and running on the road – last season just 42% of their points came away from home in the third tier. However, the Blues are looking a little toothless without Che Adams, with their only win coming from a fluke long-range strike. They’re averaging under eight shots per game – which is one of the lowest tallies in the division. On top of that, they’ve drawn their last four home Championship games. Given that the draw was the most frequent result at St Andrew’s last term, occurring in 11 of 23 league games, we think you can get decent value on Barnsley picking up a point in this clash.