Bristol City v Birmingham City Betting Tips: Blues to get job done when it matters

These two sides were in and around the play-off places towards the start of the campaign, however, they are now down at the wrong end of the table with Birmingham still yet to ensure safety.

Bristol City have been on a fantastic run in this final straight with no defeats in their last five, winning four of them. These great performances have boosted Bristol up to 17th and six points above the drop-zone.

The Robins have been in great goal-scoring form in recent times having scored an average of two goals per game in their last five matches. In fact, they have also been good in front of goal throughout the course of the season with 60 goals scored in 45 matches – the best in the bottom ten. However, defensively, Bristol have been poor for the entire campaign with 65 goals conceded – fourth-worst in the division – whilst they have also kept just one clean sheet in their last seven matches.

The thing that has kept Bristol City safe this season, as well as kept Lee Johnson in a managerial position, is the team’s home form which has seen them win their last four and not lose in their last six. Additionally, the Robins have earned 69% of their overall points at home. The goals have also been flying in for City at Ashton Gate recently with 12 in the last five.

Birmingham City got a vital win under their belt last time out, their first in ten games, which puts them in the driving seat out of the three relegation-threatened teams going into this final round of fixtures as they are now two points ahead of the drop-zone.

Harry Redknapp has gone back to basics since arriving at Birmingham and they have reverted back to the solid foundations they had before the ill-fated reign of Gianfranco Zola. Birmingham have now conceded just one goal since Redknapp’s arrival and generally look a lot less open at the back. Their recent victory against Huddersfield, in which they scored two goals, also showed that Redknapp’s Birmingham are more effective in the final third thanks to their more direct style of play.

Blues lost their first away match under Redknapp to local rivals Aston Villa, however, they will feel that they should have deserved at least a point after putting in a gutsy performance. In fact, Birmingham have actually been okay on their travels in the last couple of months with just two losses in their last six.

Bristol City are the favourites here given their recent form, however, in the build-up to this match, manager Lee Johnson has said that he is looking at giving some youngsters a chance of first team football which could drastically decrease the quality of the team. Johnson’s opposite number, Harry Redknapp, has insisted that Birmingham need to win this game and I imagine his side will be right at it from the first whistle. The fact that Bristol have nothing to play for whilst Birmingham have it all to play for could be a big factor here, hence why I am backing the visitors at 7/4.

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