Premiership - Stoke City v Birmingham City

28 December 2009

Preview By Tipster Jumbo (New Zealand)

The Potters after a good start to this EPL Campaign have picked up only 2 points form their most recent five games and if they fail to win this game, things could become tricky for them. Stoke couldn’t get anything from the Manchester City game even though they had had a marvelous chance to break the deadlock but they again failed to get on the score sheet for the fourth time in last five games. That doesn’t bode well for a side who are last in the EPL for Goals scored with a paltry 15 facing a Blues side who themselves are struggling to score but are at least getting results in their matches on the season to date. Stoke could also be without 4 players for today's clash with the inform Blues, Midfielders Glenn Whelan and Salif Diao are suspended, while Robert Huth and Andy Wilkinson are both struggling to be fit. Add into that mix that Stoke have indicated that changes are due for this clash with Liam Lawrence, Ricardo Fuller, Rory Delap, James Beattie and Robert Huth likely to start the match. The midfield pair Salif Diao and Glenn Whelan are suspended after picking up five yellow cards, but Ryan Shawcross could make a return after recovering from groin strain.

Birmingham are on a 10-game unbeaten run, they were the best side of the promoted sides but took a while to find their feet, now however they are flying and the draw against Chelsea will have them thinking grand thoughts for the remainder of this season, However winning and remaining unbeaten are 2 vastly different things as the Blues have scored only 19 goals so far this term which although they are going great sees the Blues boast one of the worst scoring records in the league , However Birmingham's defence have conceded only four goals in their last seven league matches, and have been the catalyst for their climb up the EPL Table, Due to the festive schedule, The Blues may make some changes after a long run of seven matches without having to do so, Keith Fahey, Damien Johnson and Kevin Phillips are likely to get starts , while Stuart Parnaby and Martin Taylor could also play some part after recovering from injuries. Birmingham also have a few injury concerns, with Sebastian Larsson rated the most doubtful due to an ankle problem. But goalkeeper Hart is expected to play despite the head injury he suffered against Chelsea.

RECENT RESULTS: Played 1, Stoke 0, Birmingham 0, Drawn 1…Round 3, 22-Aug-2009 at Birmingham : Birmingham vs Stoke 0 – 0

Interesting Stuff Courtesy of the BBC: The Potters are unbeaten at home since a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United during September, However they have only won one of their last eight games and mustered just six points in that time……This is Stoke's fourth Midlands derby of the season - they are yet to record a victory……Birmingham are unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League matches. It is their longest top-flight run in 101 years, since going undefeated in 11 games in 1908.Winning 3 and drawing 8….The Blues have drawn their last match of the year in each of the previous three seasons. Their most recent end-of-year victory was in 2004……• Since Birmingham beat Stoke 7-0 in January 1998 there has only been two goals scored in four meetings between the sides in all competitions…..Stoke have not beaten Birmingham in their last six encounters. Their last win was 1-0 at their former Victoria Ground home in January 1997.

There seems to be a few good bets around the EPL today and on this match also, with perhaps Under 2.5 Goals being an option, or even 0-1 Goals at $3.50 being a decent option, I reckon a draw at Half time is also a very real possibility, but I fancy the draw to post on here, Neither side has been great in the goal scoring department and so Goals will come at a Premium in this match I believe, I also thin that after the Blues great run of matches and with their draw against Chelsea that they could be forgiven for coming to the Britannia Stadium expecting a win and could be taken by surprise by a Stoke side who really need to gain points from their home matches, However it pans out I am not expecting many goals at all with perhaps only one being enough to decide this match, Personally I’m looking for the points to be shared come 90 mins in this encounter and therefore I’ll have a small shot on this match ending in a draw….Good Luck.