Cardiff v Birmingham predictions: Inconsistent Bluebirds may be denied victory

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Cardiff City v Birmingham City in the Championship on Saturday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Football, 12.30pm Saturday

Best bet

Draw
1pt 23-10 bet365

Team news

Cardiff
Perry Ng is available after missing last Saturday's trip to Reading through suspension.

Birmingham
Gary Gardner and Nico Gordon are injury doubts.

Match preview

Birmingham have shrugged aside low expectations by making a decent start to the Championship season and they can preserve their unbeaten status by holding Cardiff to a draw in the Welsh capital.

The summer was a turbulent time for Birmingham with takeover talk briefly interrupted by John Eustace replacing Lee Bowyer in the dugout.

Eustace has made a few signings and seems to be taking the team in a positive direction.

Birmingham registered a solid 0-0 draw at Luton and a well-deserved 2-1 victory at home to Huddersfield.

Taking four points from two teams involved in last season's playoffs was unexpected and the Blues kept up those standards in Tuesday's EFL Cup tie at Norwich which finished in a 2-2 draw before the home side prevailed 4-2 on penalties.

Birmingham have been fiercely competitive and seem to be taking on the characteristics of their manager, who was a tough-tackling midfielder.

Cardiff could be in for a battle and approach the game low on confidence after Tuesday's 3-0 loss at home to Portsmouth in the EFL Cup.

The Bluebirds were 1-0 winners at home to Norwich in their opening match, but their inconsistencies are perhaps understandable for a club which has undergone massive personnel changes.

Cardiff manager Steve Morison has overseen an aggressive transfer strategy with 13 permanent signings and two loans coming in.

It will take time for Morison to settle on his preferred starting line up and Cardiff will probably get stronger as the season progresses.

For now they are a work in progress and a point may be the best they can achieve this weekend.

Key stat

Birmingham have drawn four of their last six matches.

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