Stoke City vs Birmingham Predictions

• Stoke are on a run of one win in seven at home
• Birmingham have only lost two of their last 11 outings
• The Blues have won three of their last six on the road

Stoke need points

It hasn’t all been plain sailing for Alex Neil since he took the Stoke job, with just three of his dozen outings ending in a victory.

Only one of those wins has come at the bet365 Stadium, where the Potters have lost three of their last four matches, failing to score in each defeat.

The manager knows that form needs to be turned around quickly, but he may not draw confidence from the visit of Birmingham, whom Stoke have beaten just once in their last ten head-to-head meetings.

Birmingham on a good run

On the other hand, Birmingham’s new boss John Eustace continues to impress, and his side have now lost just two of their last 11 games, picking up five wins in the process.

That means the Blues are not too far off the play-offs, a position they could barely have imagined of occupying at the start of the season.

Their away form has been particularly impressive, registering three victories and conceding only nine goals in as many outings, two of which came to high-flying Blackburn last month.

I think Stoke will struggle in this game, but select Birmingham double chance for insurance, with 2-1 to the Blues my correct score prediction.