Brighton vs Birmingham Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

With Huddersfield faltering, Brighton can sense the promised land of the Premier League is just over the horizon, but there is still work to be done. They have looked a bit nervy at times and have put in some poor performances over the past couple of months but at the Amex they’ve still been tending to deliver the goods. Here struggling Birmingham are likely to sit deep and try to frustrate them, which could lead to a low-scoring game, which the hosts should edge.

That was exactly what happened on Saturday when Brighton beat Blackburn 1-0 at home to secure a vital 3 points. It wasn’t their most convincing performance of the season but at this stage of the campaign it really doesn’t matter. All that Chris Hughton will be concerned with, is getting over the line and he’d gladly take another scrappy 1-0 win here.

Defensively Brighton ought to be able to cope well with anything Birmingham throw at them. The Seagulls have conceded just 0.55 goals per game at home this season in the league and have won a huge 60% of their home games to nil. This certainly looks like another strong candidate for that. Brighton also have the joint best overall defensive record in the league, with only 0.85 goals conceded and have kept clean sheets in 51% of their Championship matches this term.

Birmingham you sense have reverted to a more cautious approach in recent weeks which has helped them accumulate three straight draws to edge them towards safety. They’d gladly take another here but it’s going to be tough. They’ve only won 2 of their 20 matches under Gianfranco Zola, whose reign started with a home defeat against Brighton. Birmingham have scored just 0.89 goals per game on their travels this term and only the bottom two clubs have scored fewer goals than them overall.

Their last 10 away games have included four defeats to nil against top ten sides and it’s hard to see them fairing much better here. With a 9 point advantage on Huddersfield below them, Brighton are now under slightly less pressure and given their stunning home record, which is the best in the league, backing Brighton to win to nil at 7/5 looks to offer value.