Birmingham vs Norwich Predictions

• Birmingham have avoided defeat in three of their last five Championship home games.
• Norwich have lost two of their three away games this season and were fortunate to beat Sunderland on Saturday.
• Birmingham have kept only two clean sheets in their last ten at home.

Too early to sing Canaries’ praises 

Norwich may appear to have turned the corner after recording three league wins in a row, but anyone who saw them struggle to a 1-0 win over Sunderland would not be in a rush to back them at odds-on against Birmingham. Manager Dean Smith admitted the display at the Stadium of Light was “probably the worst we have played without the ball this season” as the Canaries survived a succession of scares before grabbing the only goal of the game with some rare quality.

Sunderland’s manager wasn’t even at the game to comment as he was watching the club he was about to join, so the Black Cats’ players did well not to be too distracted by the disruption. They hit the woodwork twice and had series of goalbound efforts cleared off the line or blocked by determined Norwich defenders.

In a sense, the backs-to-the-wall road win is the sort of victory that can really galvanise a group of players to greater achievements, but we will have to wait and see on that score.

Blues need to work on their finishing

Birmingham are a big price to win at home, but their inability to put the ball in the back of their opponents’ net right now makes that option unappealing. John Eustace’s side were undone by one man at Rotherham on Saturday – 37-year-old Richard Wood, who ghosted into the box twice to finish off delicious crosses.

The Blues were on top for long spells against Wigan in their previous home game, but somehow found a way to lose to the ten-man Latics. A draw in this game would seem to be the likeliest outcome, but if Birmingham get the first goal there’s a good chance they can hang on to it, so the double chance option is the recommendation.

Birmingham have scored in six of their last seven home games, but managed multiple goals in only three of them. And with only two clean sheets to show from their last ten outings at St Andrew’s a 1-1 draw is the most suitable correct score forecast.