Leicester vs Birmingham Bet Builder Tips, Stats, Best Bets, Predictions

Who dominates this fixture will be fascinating with both sides tending to take the initiative in their respective games. I would lean towards Leicester however who’ve had the most possession of any team in the division with 63.1%.

Birmingham will also fancy themselves to create plenty of opportunities on the break, with the likes of Demarai Gray, Keshi Anderson, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Jay Stansfield all possessing pace and power in transition.

42% of Blues’ attacking play has come down the left-hand side but that probably undersells the danger of Blues’ right. Osayi-Samuel loves to foray forwards and with Gray likely to shift back to the right, there will be plenty of pace and trickery down that side.

Thomas isn’t the most convincing defender and isn’t blessed with the natural speed to combat Blues’ threats. Gray has drawn 2.0 fouls per game so far whilst Osayi-Samuel has drawn 3.3 per match. All of which leans towards Thomas committing at least one infringement, which has occurred in each of the opening games.

Abdul Fatawu was the difference maker in Leicester’s win over Charlton last weekend, and whilst the goal was right out of the top drawer, it’s nothing unusual for someone of his quality.

He demonstrated his ability for the extraordinary in his last Championship campaign, and he’s picked up exactly where he left off, acting as the Foxes’ main attacking outlet thus far. 43% of their attacking play has come down the right flank and 28% of their shots have come from that side too.

Much of Leicester’s game plan is aimed at getting Fatawu 1v1. James Justin inverted in the first two matches with the purpose of dragging defenders away from him whilst Louis Page had that same job at the Valley.

Fatawu isn’t afraid to let fly, firing in 3.3 shots per game across the first three fixtures. He has the pace and trickery to work a yard for a shot, and with Alex Cochrane likely being chucked back into the Blues XI after a knock, Fatawu could benefit from that extra bit of sharpness.

Even if Leicester are the team that dominates the lion’s share of the ball, Blues will still be looking to build out from the back. Both Phil Neumann and Christoph Klarer are able ball players and Davies has shown his team will look to play the game on their terms away from home.

Leicester under Cifuentes have looked to squeeze their opponents high, much in the mould of a modern top Championship side. The LW has often been the player that has joined Ayew in leading the press, pushing onto the right centre-back for the opponents.

This could mean Neumann comes under pressure, when Blues look to get their foot on the ball. He’s also tasked with striding into a wider position when Osayi-Samuel is given license to push forward.

Neumann has drawn 1.7 fouls per game so far in the league and with both Ayew and Daka not afraid to put themselves about (each committing 1+ foul per game), Neumann may be on the end of a hefty challenge or two.

In the likely absence of Jay Stansfield, Chris Davies will be hoping Kyogo Furuhashi can find his shooting boots and start to justify why Blues acquired the Japanese forward.

Furuhashi has a reputation as one of the league’s sharp shooters, with many familiar with his impressive goalscoring exploits north of the border:

He’s failed to show that at St Andrew’s just yet, though he did net a goal against Sheffield United in the League Cup. Chances haven’t been in short supply, with Kyogo missing the most big chances (4) of any Championship player.

He’s had a few golden opportunities but hasn’t truly been able to find his goalscoring touch, though it feels inevitable he will start to fire them in. He’s looked sharp in his footwork, and a persistent livewire so maybe Friday will be the day it all comes together for the new man and he’ll endear himself to the travelling Blues faithful.