Eng. Championship
2012-11-30 - Birmingham City vs Middlesbrough
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Championship
Friday 30 November 2012 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Birmingham City
After coming so close to winning a place back in the Premier League last season, Birmingham City knew this would be a much tougher season as the financial constraints on the club have taken effect. Lee Clark is under pressure as the manager of the club, with the fans not happy at the direction the club is going.
Birmingham are 19th in the Championship and their 21 point total means they are only 6 points clear of the relegation zone. It is important that they improve their form at St Andrews where the Blues are 3-2-4 this season, scoring 9 goals and conceding 13 in those games.
Since beating Bristol City 2-0 at home, Birmingham have failed to win any of their last 4 games while picking up 2 points in those games. They drew 1-1 at Blackpool over the weekend, but their home form has been disappointing at best. Birmingham have lost 4 of their last 6 home games and they have earned just 4 points from a possible 18 in those games.
Middlesbrough
Tony Mowbray had to be pleased with his sides reaction to back to back League defeats when they thumped Huddersfield Town on Tuesday night. However, Middlesbrough need to maintain that level of form going into the Christmas period if they are to continue with their push for a place in the Premier League next season.
Middlesbrough are still 3rd in the Championship following their win on Tuesday night and they are only 3 points behind leaders Cardiff City. They have been one of the more promising away teams in the Championship this season, going 4-1-4 while scoring 11 goals and conceding 12.
As mentioned, Middlesbrough had lost back to back League games before the win on Tuesday night. Previous to those defeats, Middlesbrough had actually been unbeaten in 9 games in the League, winning 7 of those to help guide them into the position they are. Boro have failed to win, or score, in their last 2 away games, but previously had won 6 in a row on their travels in all competitions.
Head to Head
The last 5 games between these two sides has been won by the home side, which includes a 3-0 win for Birmingham City here last season.
Birmingham have beaten Middlesbrough the last 2 times they have hosted them and they have now won 5 of their last 6 at St Andrews against them.
The one exception is the 0-3 win for Boro six seasons ago.
Prediction
Usually, Birmingham City have considered a home game with Middlesbrough as a 'gimme three points', but I think the away side have been showing more in their recent games and I think I their like their chances of winning this game.
Birmingham have lost 4 of their last 6 at home, although they were fortunate to hold Leicester City during that time, and Middlesbrough are a side that is capable of winning on their travels.
Hopefully the failure to score at Nottingham Forest and Cardiff City hasn't affected the away side too much, and I'll look for them to pick up an important three points in this one and move into the top two.
The Pick :
Birmingham City 0-1 Middlesbrough
