Birmingham vs Millwall predictions: Blues to maintain impressive start
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- Birmingham are unbeaten in the league so far with three wins and one draw
- Millwall have two wins and two defeats from first four games
- Recommended bet: Birmingham to win
Birmingham have made a rock-solid start to the new season and should pick up a fourth win from five games when they host Millwall on Saturday.
The Blues are unbeaten in the Championship, winning both of their home games so far against Leeds United and Plymouth Argyle, and will be confident of getting the better of a Lions side who lost 3-1 at Norwich City in their last away game.
Team news
A much-changed Blues were beaten at home by Cardiff City in the Carabao Cup second round on Tuesday night, when they also had striker Lukas Jutkiewicz sent off, but boss John Eustace is set to revert back to his league side for the visit of the Lions.
Jay Stansfield scored the late winner against Plymouth last weekend after coming off the bench and then started against Cardiff in the cup, so is set to come in for the suspended Jutkiewicz.
George Hall made his first start of the season on Tuesday and will hope to retain his place in midfield for the home side.
Millwall captain Shaun Hutchinson picked up a knock in the 1-0 win over Stoke City last time out, but should be fit to face the Blues.
Belgian midfielder Casper De Norre is closing in on a return to full fitness following a recent back injury and will be assessed in the build-up ahead of the trip to the West Midlands.
The stats
Millwall finished 15 points and nine places better off than Birmingham last season, with the Lions ending the campaign in eighth compared to Blues down in 17th.
The corresponding fixture last term ended goalless at St Andrew's, while the Blues won 1-0 away at The Den.
Three of Birmingham's six league goals so far have come in the final 10 minutes of games as Eustace's men left it to the 84th minute to seal a 2-0 win at Bristol City, alongside late winners at home against both Leeds and Plymouth.
Milwall have only managed three goals in their four league games, but their two wins so far, both by 1-0 scorelines, have been against teams who were fancied to push for promotion this season — Middlesbrough and Stoke City.
Prediction
The feel-good factor has finally returned to Birmingham this season following the club's summer takeover.
Fronted by American financier Tom Wagner, City have big ambitions for the future and seven-time Super Bowl-winner Tom Brady's appearance in the stands against Leeds caused headlines around the world, after the NFL superstar was named as a minority owner and chairman of the club's advisory board.
There has been a significant uplift in the atmosphere at St Andrew's in the two league wins over Leeds and Plymouth and the Blues can again enjoy themselves at home when they come up against former boss Gary Rowett's Lions.
Milwall have edged out Middlesbrough and Stoke, but lost 1-0 at home to Bristol City — who Birmingham beat 2-0 at Ashton Gate — before they were second-best at Norwich, going down to a 3-1 defeat.
Eustace's side may again have to work hard for the three points, but they can maintain their unbeaten league start with another win.
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