Birmingham vs Derby Predictions

• Derby have won four of their last five away matches.
• Birmingham have not kept a clean sheet in their last eight Championship games.
• Both teams have scored in all but one of the Rams’ last ten league outings.

Blues push is not materialising

There was great optimism that Birmingham would be a challenging presence in the Championship this season after they stormed their way to the League One title but there has been little to suggest another promotion is on the cards for the St Andrews outfit.

Admittedly, they have shown some steel on their own patch, where they have been unbeaten in their last five league outings, but they secured a draw against po0r travellers Charlton in their last home match, which they would have expected to win and Derby represent a tougher challenge than that posed by the Addicks.

While their last three defeats against Southampton, QPR and Sheffield United all came when on their travels, that will have still had a detrimental effect on moral, which is something the Rams can exploit on Boxing Day.

Rams are strong on the road

It would probably not take much for Birmingham to push on as the Championship is such a volatile league, but bookmakers may not be respecting visiting Derby enough.

The Rams are two places and two points ahead of their Midlands rivals, but no team in the Championship have claimed more points from their last eight away matches than John Eustace’s outfit, who have won four of their last five on their travels.

Wins at the two Sheffield clubs and additional successes against Swansea and Blackburn have boosted confidence and, at the prices available, they look to represent some value to head back to Pride Park with the points.

There have been more than two goals in eight of their last ten Championship outings, so those looking for a correct-score interest may be attracted towards a 2-1 away win.