Birmingham v Reading predictions: Well-matched duo set for St Andrew's stalemate

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

Where to watch

Sky Sports Football & Main Event, 8pm Friday

Best bet

Draw
1pt 23-10 BoyleSports

Team news

Birmingham
Scott Hogan, Przemyslaw Placheta, Gary Gardner and Harlee Dean are unavailable.

Reading
Scott Dann, Dejan Tetek, Liam Moore and Ovie Ejaria are sidelined but Femi Azeez may return. Tom Holmes was withdrawn with a head injury last weekend and Sam Hutchinson is a doubt.

Match preview

Birmingham were left feeling short-changed after their goalless draw at struggling Blackpool last weekend and they may again have to settle for a point when eighth-placed Reading visit St Andrew's.

The Championship is an incredibly tight division with just ten points separating the playoff places and the bottom three, and many clubs, including Birmingham and Reading, are unsure of their prospects for 2023.

There is a fine line between pushing for promotion and getting sucked into a relegation scrap, although Reading may allow themselves to think more positively after Saturday's 1-0 success at home to Coventry which leaves them two points adrift of the top six.

Royals manager Paul Ince has done a decent job given he has had only a modest budget to work with and had to deal with a persistently lengthy injury list. It will be tough for Ince's side to maintain a promotion challenge but they are well on course to steer clear of trouble.

Birmingham had similarly low pre-season expectations after making a late decision to hand John Eustace his first crack at management in the summer, but after a slow start - one win in seven games - they have climbed up the table.

Eustace has had to rely heavily on loan players with Krystian Bielik, Auston Trusty, Dion Sanderson, Emmanuel Longelo and Hannibal Mejbri establishing themselves as first-team regulars and there could be a bumpy road ahead if some of those temporary deals are cut short in January.

In the short term Birmingham should remain a solid, competitive outfit, but they have not won a home game since October and may have to settle for a point on Friday.

Key stat

Birmingham have drawn four of their last seven home fixtures.

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