Watford vs Birmingham City: Prediction, Team News, Lineup Preview
On New Year’s Day, Watford is set to host Birmingham City at Vicarage Road as both teams seek to improve their standings in the Championship. Watford has been enjoying a strong run of form, while Birmingham is struggling with injuries and inconsistent performances.
Match Preview: Watford vs Birmingham City
This match comes as Watford looks to maintain its position in the promotion playoff spots. They currently hold the sixth position in the league, having not lost any of their last six League matches (W4, D2). Their most recent victory came at Norwich City, where a goal from Vivaldo Semedo sealed a crucial win.
Watford’s Recent Form
- Watford has been particularly strong at home, remaining unbeaten in their last nine matches at Vicarage Road.
- They have recorded three consecutive home wins against Birmingham City by a total score of 12-0 over their last six meetings.
- Currently five points behind Middlesbrough, Watford aims to leverage their home advantage to climb higher in the rankings.
Birmingham’s Challenge
Conversely, Birmingham City finds itself facing difficulties. The team has struggled with injuries and suspensions, resulting in a six-match winless streak. They recently managed a draw against Southampton; however, their recent performances have been underwhelming, with only three points collected from the last 18 available.
- Birmingham has dropped to 15th place in the Championship, trailing Watford by seven points.
- Most of their struggles have come away from home, recording no wins in their last six away matches.
Team News
Watford will be without Mamadou Doumbia, who is participating in the Africa Cup of Nations, as well as offensive players Rocco Vata and Kwado Baah, both out with hamstring injuries. Meanwhile, Birmingham will miss Tommy Doyle and Christoph Klarer due to red card suspensions.
There may be a potential return for Alex Cochrane, providing some hope for Birmingham. However, superstar Demarai Gray will likely miss the match due to a calf injury.
Predicted Lineups
| Watford | Birmingham City |
|---|---|
| Selvik | Allsop |
| Ngakia | Sampsted |
| Pollock | Neumann |
| Alleyne | Robinson |
| Bola | Cashin |
| Ince | Iwata |
| Kyprianou | Leonard |
| Louza | Roberts |
| Maamma | Stansfield |
| Chakvetadze | Koumas |
| Semedo | Kyogo |
Match Prediction
With Watford’s outstanding home record and Birmingham’s struggles, the prediction leans towards a narrow victory for the Hornets. A scoreline of 1-0 is likely, reflecting Watford’s current form and Birmingham’s difficulties on the road.
Stay tuned to El-Balad for updates and analysis on the Championship match up between Watford and Birmingham City.
