Birmingham will take on Southampton in the Championship on Monday, 29 December, with both sides hoping for a second-half-of-the-season promotion charge.
Coming into the match, Birmingham are six points off a place in the playoffs, while Southampton are five, so there is work to do for both clubs if they are to achieve their ambitions.
As part of this week's round of Championship betting tips, check out our Birmingham vs Southampton prediction below.
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Birmingham vs Southampton prediction: A much-needed win for the hosts
Key Stats
- Birmingham are unbeaten across their last six home Championship matches.
- Southampton have lost three of their last six Championship matches.
- More than two goals have been scored in nine of Southampton's last ten matches.
Correct score prediction: Birmingham 2-1 Southampton
Neither of these two sides are in great form coming into this one, but home advantage could and should be the key. The Saints have been dismal on the road all season, while the Blues have played their best stuff at St Andrew's.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Closely priced
- HOME: 13/10 (2.30) – 43.5%
- DRAW: 12/5 (3.40) 29.4%
- AWAY: 19/10 (2.90) – 34.5%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
The Birmingham vs Southampton odds are weighted in favour of the hosts, but even they haven't been priced as odds-on favourites. Ladbrokes have given Birmingham a 43.5% chance of winning the match, while Southampton have been given a 34.5% chance of victory.
You can find all our predictions for today's games on our football betting tips page.
Most recent H2Hs: Advantage Southampton
Southampton have the better of the recent H2H record, going unbeaten in their last five matches against Birmingham. The Saints have won four of those five matches, including a 3-1 triumph at the beginning of the month.
England Championship 06/12/25
Southampton
Birmingham
England Championship 02/03/24
Birmingham
Southampton
England Championship 28/10/23
Southampton
Birmingham
Birmingham preview: Injuries are stacking up
Chris Adams is under severe pressure at St Andrew's, and the club's absentee list isn't making life easier for him. For this one, Adams is without eight players, with Demarai Gray, Scott Wright, Ethan Laird, Alex Cochrane and Lee Buchanan injured, Tommy Doyle and Christoph Klarer suspended, and Bright Osayi-Samuel away on international duty.
Predicted lineup: Beadle (GK), Iwata, Neumann, Robinson, Cashin, Paik, Leonard, Roberts, Stansfield, Koumas, Ducksch
Last five results
- Birmingham 1-1 Derby
- Sheffield United 3-0 Birmingham
- Birmingham 1-1 Charlton
- QPR 2-1 Birmingham
- Southampton 3-1 Birmingham
Southampton preview: Problems of their own
The situation at Southampton isn't much better, which perhaps explains why both sides are currently performing below their expected levels. For this one, the Saints are without Mads Roerslev, Elias Jelert, Shea Charles, Samuel Edozie and Ross Stewart, while Damion Downs is a doubt.
Predicted lineup: Bazunu (GK), Harwood-Bellis, Wood, Stephens, Fellows, Jander, Downes, Manning, Azaz, Scienza, Armstrong
Last five results
- Oxford Utd 2-1 Southampton
- Southampton 1-1 Coventry
- Norwich 2-1 Southampton
- Southampton 3-2 West Brom
- Southampton 3-1 Birmingham
Player to watch: Jay Stansfield
Jay Stansfield had a good start to the Championship season, but the Birmingham City striker has now gone seven games without a goal since scoring a brace against Norwich at the end of November.