Lincoln City vs Birmingham City
Match details. Championship, Regular Season - 13. Kick-off is Sat 31 Oct, 13:30 Lagos time. It is played at LNER stadium, Lincoln.
What's at stake. Lincoln City are 15th on 15 points after 12 games, level on points with Bristol City, 1 point clear of Cardiff. A win would take them above Bristol City. Birmingham City are 7th on 20 points after 12 games, level on points with Southampton, level on points with QPR. A win would take them above Southampton.
Form. Lincoln City have won three, drawn three and lost four of their last ten, 1.2 points a game. Their last five, newest first: W D L L 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: L W W W D.
The numbers. Lincoln City score 1.2 and concede two a game in their last five at home, with one clean sheet and two games without a goal. Lincoln City average 12.1 shots (3.5 on target), 3.5 corners and 3.1 cards a game, with 38% of the ball. Birmingham City score 1.2 and concede one a game in their last five away, with one clean sheet. Birmingham City average 14.4 shots (5.4 on target), 5.5 corners and 2.2 cards a game, with 53% of the ball.
Head to head. Birmingham City have won all of the last three meetings. Two of the three went over 2.5 goals and both teams scored in two. The last time they met, on 8 Mar 2025, it finished Lincoln City 0-1 Birmingham City: Lincoln City had 6 shots to 13, 26% of the ball, four yellow cards.
Where it pulls both ways. On goals, their goals for and against point to a tight game; their records put over 2.5 goals at 62%; two of the last three meetings went over 2.5.
The case against. Lincoln City's record still gives them 25% to win. Not everything agrees on goals: their records put over 2.5 goals at 62%. Not everything agrees on goals: two of the last three meetings went over 2.5.
The read. Birmingham City to win. A tight game. Birmingham City are the stronger side on form and the table; both teams' records favour Birmingham City; the meetings favour Birmingham City. Their goals for and against point to a tight game.
The bets. Best bet: Under 3.5 Goals at 1.35, 72% on the records (Lincoln City: under 3.5 goals in 3 of 5 at home; Birmingham City: under 3.5 goals in 5 of 5 away). Backup: Under 4.5 Goals at 1.12. It often rescues the bet, but it is no guarantee. Leave: Over 0.5 Goals (no overs on a tight read). Predicted score: Lincoln City 0-1 Birmingham City (8% chance).
Every score's chance from both teams' checked games, never cut or rescaled. The lit square is the likeliest score that fits the read (the call and a tight game).