Prediction: Birmingham vs Blackpool

23rd October 2010

Birmingham aim to return to winning ways following back to back defeats to Everton and Arsenal and the Blues have a good chance to do so as they play host to newcomers Blackpool. The Tangerine couldn’t continue the good run of results having lost at home to City and they now look to avoid another defeat.

Following the great performances last term and having in mind club’s healthy infrastructure, Birmingham were tipped to soon become a genuine top table team, although that transition is not running as smoothly as expected. The Blues have had a very slow start to the season despite significantly reinforcing the squad and they are yet to hit the ground running, but they are bound to come good any time now. Players like Hleb and Zigic are slowly showing why they were brought to St Andrew’s, with the latter scoring the only goal in the unlucky defeat to Arsenal last weekend. It was that game that showed Brum are on the right track with a convincing performance against the top side giving the team something to build on before this crucial game. Birmingham have been a force to be reckoned with at their home ground over the last few years and this looks like a great chance for them to record the second win of the season even though Alex McLeish will be without McFadden, Gardner, and Beausejour.

Blackpool have been one of the surprise packages of English football after first defying all odds to gain promotion to the Premier League before enjoying a great start to their Premiership campaign. The Tangerines are certainly one of the most entertaining sides in English top flight, not only because of the colourful manager Ian Holloway, but also because of the way they play. The uncompromising approach and attack-minded tactics have already brought them 9 points from the travels and the record gives them plenty of confidence before the trip to St Andrew’s, but team’s inexperience is slowly starting to affecting their game and I think that will be the reason of their downfall. The team are also very inconsistent and have already conceded 18 goals, 2 per game, so Birmingham could be too much for them at the moment. With no new injury worries, Ian Holloway is set to field the same side that started the Manchester City game.

Conclusion

Home win has been long overdue for Birmingham and seeing the Blues have really raised their game lately, this could easily be the game when they turn it around. Blackpool has been in excellent form lately but their inexperience in the top flight is likely to cost them in this match and I cannot help but wonder if the defeat to City was just the sign of things to come.

Verdict: Home win Birmingham (1)

Best Odds: 10/11

Bookmaker: 888sport