Derby vs Birmingham Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

A trip to Derby is about as tough as it gets in the Championship right now. Steve McClaren has really got the Rams firing on his return to the club and it’s hard to see Birmingham denying them here.

The Blues made the odd decision to sack Gary Rowett and replace him with Gianfranco Zola earlier in the month. It has been a real baptism of fire for the Italian with Brighton and Derby his first opponents and having watched his side fight well but ultimately succumb at home to the Seagulls, he’d gladly take any kind of result here.

They may struggle to get it though. Birmingham have lost 3 of their last 4 in the league and have conceded 11 in their last 5 Championship away matches. The manner of some of those defeats will be the concern as they’ve always relied on their fighting spirit and organisation to get results over the past couple of years but they’ve been broken down a bit too easily in recent weeks.

Derby are so strong at the back, it’s hard to see the Blues getting many chances of their own. The Rams have kept clean sheets in 73% of their home games and have the 2nd best defensive record in the Championship. What’s more they are also looking dangerous in the final third now. They’ve netted 16 goals in their last 8 games and have several goal threats, none more so than Tom Ince, who is in great touch in front of goal with 7 goals in 7 games. Given that, backing Ince to score anytime at 6/4 looks like it could be worth a punt here.

It’s hard to make a case for anything other than a solid home win. Under Steve McClaren, Derby are yet concede in 6 Championship matches at the iPro and their overall clean sheet ratio is 55% in the league this term. Therefore, Birmingham are going to find it very tough to get themselves a goal in this one. A while back a clean sheet didn’t necessarily mean Derby would win but their improved attacking threat suggests they will do just that here and backing Derby to win to nil at 13/8 looks to offer value.