Birmingham City vs Aston Villa Prediction, Betting Tips and Preview
Midlands rivals Birmingham City and Aston Villa meet for a televised Championship match this Sunday lunchtime. Read the match predictions to find out why Aston Villa are the betting tip in this local derby. Birmingham dropped out of the playoff places when they lost 2-0 away at Burton Albion last weekend. Meanwhile Aston Villa climbed to 16th on the back of their 1-0 win at home to Fulham and are now just 6 points behind the Blues.
Birmingham City vs Aston Villa Preview
Birmingham are likely to start Rhoys Wiggins with regular left-back Jonathan Grounds serving a suspension. Blues boss Gary Rowett may look for something extra in attack which could see Clayton Donaldson partner Lukas Jutkiewicz up-front. Robert Tesche has an ankle injury and joins Paul Caddis who has a dislocated shoulder on the sidelines.
Aston Villa are without Tommy Elphick and Micah Richards, so Steve bruce could name an unchanged side. Jack Grealish is serving the final match of a 3-game suspension while Ritchie De Laet is out for the season. On a positive note, Albert Adomah has shaken off an ankle complaint and is free to play.
Team Predictions Birmingham City vs Aston Villa
Birmingham 4-4-2 formation: Legzdins; Wiggins, Shotton, Morrison, Spector; Maghoma, Gleeson, Davis, Cotterill; Jutkiewicz, Donaldson
Aston Villa 4-2-3-1 formation: Gollini; Amavi, Baker, Chester, Hutton; Jedinak, Gardner; Kodjia, Bacuna, Adomah; Gestede
Birmingham City vs Aston Villa Betting Tips
- Birmingham have won 5 drawn 3 and lost 2 of their last 10 matches
- Aston Villa have won 2 drawn 6 and lost 2 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Birmingham have scored an average of 1.5 goals and conceded an average of 1.1 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Aston Villa have scored an average of 1.0 goals and conceded an average of 1.2 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 5 of Birmingham’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 3 of Aston Villa’s previous 10 matches
Birmingham City vs Aston Villa Prediction
Birmingham were out-scored in a 3-1 defeat away to Nottingham Forest before making heavy weather of it when beating strugglers Rotherham 4-2 at home. The warning signs in that match were clearly not heeded, as defensive lapses crept in once more in the loss at Burton. Birmingham have now shipped 7 goals in just 3 matches, which does not bode well ahead of a derby game.
Aston Villa remain unbeaten since Steve Bruce took the helm. His tenure began with a 1-1 draw at home to Wolves which Villa could have easily won on another day. Jonathan Kodjia got the ball rolling away to Reading before they were pegged back but the Villans kept plugging away and got their reward when Jordan Ayew converted from 12 yards at the death. Kodjia came up with the goods against Fulham to score with a classy finish (see video above) and is beginning to repay his transfer fee.
Aston Villa may have only beaten Birmingham once in the last 4 attempts but are undefeated in 9 of their last 10 matches against the Blues in all competitions. The visitors look to be on the up and might just be catching their bitter rivals at a bad time, given recent results. It will undoubtedly be a tense affair but I’m tipping Aston Villa to have the edge.
Free Betting Tips
Match Prediction
ASTON VILLA at 7/4 with BetVictor
Over/Under Prediction
UNDER 2.5 goals at 3/4 with BetVictor
Correct Score Prediction
ASTON VILLA 1-0 at 15/2 with BetVictor
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