Blackpool vs Birmingham Predictions

Birmingham City can continue their push for a playoff spot by defeating a dire Blackpool side shorn of their best defender when Championship action resumes at Bloomfield Road on Saturday.

The Blues may only be six points ahead of Michael Appleton’s Seasiders in a congested table, but they have lost just once in their last five and warmed up for the resumption with a 2-2 draw against a strong Wolves side in a behind-closed-doors fixture. Blackpool played out a goalless draw against Scottish Premiership side St Mirren last weekend as they prepare for a crucial run of games up to and around Christmas.

The Lancashire club slipped into the relegation zone after losing four straight league games before the winter break and lost key centre-back Marvin Ekpiteta to suspension for the next two after he received his second red card of the season in the 2-1 defeat to Wigan. Scoring goals has been as much of a problem as keeping them out for Appleton’s side and they look unlikely to trouble a Blues defence that has the best defensive record in the bottom half of the table, conceding fewer goals to this point than leaders Burnley.

John Eustace’s side, who could be boosted by the return of Hannibal Mejbri and Krystian Bielik from the World Cup, should return down the M6 with all three points. Birmingham have won two of their last three road assignments in the Championship – at Stoke and Hull – while Blackpool have lost three of their last four games at Bloomfield Road.

Two of Birmingham’s last four away wins have been accompanied by a clean sheet and with four of Blackpool’s last nine home results finishing in 1-0 losses, that looks like the correct score play to side with here.