Cardiff City vs Birmingham City

Match details. Championship, Regular Season - 12. Kick-off is Sat 24 Oct, 15:00 Lagos time. It is played at Cardiff City Stadium.

What's at stake. Cardiff City are 19th on 11 points after 11 games, 1 point behind Lincoln, level on points with Watford. A win would take them above Lincoln. Birmingham City are 4th on 20 points after 11 games, 2 points behind Middlesbrough, level on points with West Brom. A win would take them above Middlesbrough.

Team news. Cardiff City are without C. Chambers (knee injury), R. Colwill (ankle injury), D. Lawlor (hamstring injury), G. Osho (red card), Y. Salech (inactive), C. Chambers (knee injury). Birmingham City are without M. Leonard (achilles tendon injury), Paik Seung-Ho (health problems), M. Leonard (achilles tendon injury), Paik Seung-Ho (health problems).

Form. Cardiff City have won two, drawn three and lost five of their last ten, 0.9 points a game. Their last five, newest first: D W L W L. Birmingham City have won five, drawn three and lost two of their last ten, 1.8 points a game. Their last five, newest first: W W W D W.

The numbers. Cardiff City score 2.4 and concede 1.4 a game in their last five at home, with no clean sheets. Cardiff City average 16.9 shots (5.9 on target), 7.2 corners and 2.4 cards a game, with 60% of the ball. Birmingham City score 1.9 and concede 1.5 a game over their last ten, with three clean sheets. Birmingham City average 15.5 shots (5.6 on target), 5.7 corners and 2.4 cards a game, with 50% of the ball.

Head to head. In the last ten meetings Cardiff City have won six, drawn three and lost one. Four of the ten went over 2.5 goals and both teams scored in five. In the last four, Cardiff City won three and Birmingham City won one. The last time they met, on 10 Apr 2024, it finished Cardiff City 1-0 Birmingham City: Cardiff City had 12 shots to 12, 44% of the ball, four yellow cards.

Where it pulls both ways. It pulls both ways: Birmingham City are the stronger side on form and the table, but the meetings favour Cardiff City. On goals, their goals for and against point to an open game; their records put over 2.5 goals at 58%; six of the last ten meetings went under 2.5.

The case against. Not everything agrees on goals: six of the last ten meetings went under 2.5.

The read. No side to back. A draw is live. An open game. Nothing separates them clearly enough to back a side. Their goals for and against point to an open game. Their records put over 2.5 goals at 58%.

The bets. Best bet: Over 1.5 Goals at 1.18, 76% on the records (Cardiff City: over 1.5 goals in 8 of 9; Birmingham City: over 1.5 goals in 8 of 9). Backup: 2nd Half - Over/Under: Over 0.5 at 1.17. It often rescues the bet, but it is no guarantee. Leave: Cardiff City or Over 2.5 Goals (no side to back); Double Chance: Cardiff City or Birmingham City (no result call); Cardiff City or Over 1.5 Goals (no side to back). Predicted score: Cardiff City 2-1 Birmingham City (8% chance).