Birmingham v Derby predictions: Blues ready to build on positive start

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Birmingham City v Derby County in the Championship on Friday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Football, 8pm Friday

Best bet

Birmingham
2pts 10-11 Betfred, BoyleSports & Hills

Team news

Birmingham
Troy Deeney could make his debut but may have to settle for a place on the bench.

Derby
Sam Baldock is back in contention but Colin Kazim-Richards is sidelined and Kamil Jozwiak will be assessed.

Match preview

Perennial Championship strugglers Birmingham have posted five successive finishes of between 17th and 20th but they are looking to leave those lean times behind them and can climb into the top four by defeating Derby at St Andrew's.

The second-tier playoff race has an open feel to it this season there's no reason why it can't include Birmingham, who have accumulated 25 points in 15 games since appointing Lee Bowyer in March.

Birmingham’s positive end to last term has been built upon by some very astute signings, including the late-summer acquisition of Troy Deeney from Watford.

Deeney has worked hard to get into the best possible shape and could prove to be an inspired signing, although he may have to show a little patience because Birmingham's front three of Tahith Chong, Lukas Jutkiewicz and Scott Hogan have played important roles in the club's strong start to the season.

Bowyer's men have lost just one game and should have had more points after dominating large parts of the draws with Stoke (0-0) and Barnsley (1-1).

They look like a team with scope to go higher but the opposite may be the case for 15th- placed Derby, who were impacted by a summer transfer embargo.

The Rams have battled their way to one victory and three draws but they lack attacking options and their limitations were obvious as they laboured to a 1-1 stalemate at home to basement boys Nottingham Forest last time out.

Survival will be Derby's main aim and their prospects could be dented by a defeat this weekend.

Key stat

Derby have lost nine of their last 11 away games.

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