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Huge stakes for both teams in this Championship clash. With just 2 rounds to go, Wigan is trying to make the playoffs, while Birmingham needs points like air in order to avoid relegation. This will be a tense and drama filled encounter from which surely we can come up with some great betting options after the analysis.
A win today would mean Wigan will qualify for the promotion playoffs, as they are 1 point in front of Broghton and have 1 game in hand. Anything less however would see Wigan having to win in the last round at Blackburn, which is a very hard task., so this is a crucial clash for the Latics. Athletic did great to recover after a bad start to the season, but unfortunately they lost form again, at the worst possible time. Wigan lost 3 of the last 4 games, including the last 2 against Blackpool and Burnley, failing to score a single goal in these matches.
Birmingham is currently on the first relegation spot (22nd), but is just one point behind Doncaster and 2 behind Milwall and Charlton, having one game in hand. Needless to say the hosts have to at least get a draw here, otherwise relegation would be almost guaranteed – Birmingham plays an in-form Bolton side in the last round. Similar to Wigan, Birmingham is in very bad form right now. If Wigan at least won a game in the last 4, Birmingham lost 4 consecutive matches, 3 of them by at least 2 goals. With this kind of form they can`t be too confident coming into this clash.
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Bet with the best odds and highest limits at Pinnacle. |
Team news & lineups
Thorpe, Eardley and Green are out for Birmingham. Wigan has to do without the services of Watson and McCann.
Birmingham: Randolph – Caddis, Mullins, Robinson, Hancox – Reilly, Huws – Burke, Macheda, Novak – Zigic
Wigan Athletic: Al-Habsi – Perch, Boyce, Barnett, Beausejour – McClean, Gomez, McArthur, Espinoza, Waghorn – Zigic
Even though the visitors have been in rather poor form lately, Wigan to win is still the best bet here according to my analysis. Birmingham is dirt poor at the moment and they really don`t look able to challenge a top team like Wigan, who proved time and time again this season that they are Premier League material if not for their inconsistency – they were inches away from the FA Cup final after all. Another important factor is that Birmingham is the worst home team in the league, winning only 2 of their 22 matches at St Andrew`s stadium. They are on a 17 match winless streak at home in the Championship! In these circumstances my tip will be Wigan to win, also using their superior experience. Prediction: Birmingham – Wigan Athletic 1-2.
Pick: Wigan
Odds: 2.09 @ Pinnacle
Stake: 8
Possible profit: 8.72
Event date: 29 April
