Birmingham vs Preston North End Prediction & Betting Tips - Championship

Prediction published on 01/04/2024, 01:11  by Ian John in Championship Predictions

Birmingham City host Preston North End in what is a massively important Championship game at St Andrews, for different reasons for each team. For the home team Blues, points are imperative as they seek to remain in the Championship as they sit in a precarious position in 21st place, outside the drop zone on goal difference alone and with the potential to drop down to 23rd in the table if results go against them in other games. Tony Mowbray is still undergoing medical treatment and won't be back until pre-season next season, with former boss Gary Rowett now tasked with keeping Birmingham in the Championship. However, they are in very poor form, having lost six of the last seven games, their only point coming from a 1-1 draw away at Hull. They have won just two of the last ten at home, drawing three and losing five. 

Preston's situation is somewhat different. Ryan Lowe's team lie 8th in the Championship table on 59 points, five behind Norwich City in 6th but with a game in hand over the Canaries and 5th placed West Brom. They also come into this game on the back of some superb away form, having picked up three wins and a draw from their last four away games, conceding just one goal in that run and scoring seven. A comfortable 3-0 win over bottom club Rotherham United on Good Friday kept them very much in the playoff picture and with key games to come against Norwich, Southampton, Leicester and West Brom, North End's fate may well be in their own hands when it comes to the playoffs. Provided that they win at St. Andrews in this fixture.