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Birmingham City were one of the dullest sides in the Premier League last season and they were relegated due to a lack of goals. Alex McLeish jumped ship to Aston Villa and was replaced by Chris Hughton. The former Newcastle United manager took a while to settle in at St. Andrews but he has turned the Blues into one of the most exciting sides in the Championship and they are rapidly closing in on the automatic promotion places.

Birmingham City have won their last six matches in all competitions and are the form team in the Championship, scoring 20 goals and conceding just twice. They take on Southampton on Saturday and are 6/5 at Betfred to extend their winning run against the Saints, who are struggling slightly at the moment.

Nigel Adkins side were quick out of the blocks and raced to the top of the Championship at the start of the season but they are now without a win in three games and their grip on the automatic promotion places is slipping every week. The return of Rickie Lambert, who is 13/2 at bet365 to open the scoring on Saturday, will be a boost, as will the signing of Billy Sharp (7/1, bet365) but even that may not be enough to see them beat Birmingham.

It is 13/5 at Bet Victor that Saints claim all three points at St. Andrews or 12/5 that they draw with their hosts but it is always good to side with the form side in matches such as this and Birmingham City look like the value bet.

Win Market - Birmingham City (6/5, Betfred)