Southampton vs Birmingham Match preview

England - Coca Cola Championship: Southampton vs Birmingham

Saints are hosting the biggest promotion candidates with pretty damaged team compared to last year. Young and inexperienced team will have a lot of problems in securing the survival this year, so we fell that Birmingham are tha absolute favorites for this fixture…

Difficult job for Saints

Considering the team’s strength and the prognosis for the new season, Southampton showed some fine performances in the first half of Cardiff game. Although trailing, they leveled the score in the right time, just before the end of the interval, steadily resisting in the hell of crowded Ninian Park. They conceded a goal in the very finish losing the game a bit unfortunately (1-2) but still gained a certain amount of confidence in front of another hard duel waiting for them.

The confidence was completely regained by beating Exeter (3-1) in a cup game, while the number of players at Ian Poortvliet’s disposal has increased: Michael Swensson is fully fit after three year break due to hard knee injury, Stern John’s suspension is over, and Polish, Gregorz Rasiak, Bolton comeback, is also there. The only one injured is the defender Andrew Davies.

Blues set for another win

Birmingham City started their campaign in second tier successfully, fortunate scorer was Kevin Phillips in 90th min. although Sheffield United were a tough bite at St Andrews, Blues proved to be a great team because they have won even though not playing great. Despite the obvious nervous behavior at the end of the game, Alex McLeish’s boys kept pushing up for the goal and it paid off.

Cup game in Wicomb was a great chance for McLeish to test some more players and check their quality (Gary O’Connor, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie) and to rest his first star, James McFadden. The win was convincing and certain (4-0), and the manager has got the great team strong on every position and he will probably use the rotation system in the enduring season. Damien Johnson, Radhi Jaidi and Stephen Kelly are injured and probably none of them will be fit for Saturday game.

Betting verdict

It is of course implied that Birmingham are favorites in this game at St Marry stadium and that the young and inexperienced Saints have nothing to do in this fixture. The odds are pretty generous and they can reward you if you go for the Blues, so don’t miss this chance. Alex McLeish’s team is very strong for this tier and they are slowly starting to prove themselves as the indisputable promotion candidates. With players worthy of Premier League at all the positions, this year will probably be a walk in the park for them.

Our tip: Bet 8 on Away win
Odds 2.3 at
Bookmaker: Gamebookers