Birmingham City v Rochdale
Football : English Carling Cup Round 2
Wednesday 25 August 2010 - Kickoff 7:45pm

This match is live on TV

---

Birmingham City

Birmingham City look like they will be having a busy end to the transfer window this season and yesterday made an improved offer to Wigan Athletic for the services of Charles N'Zogbia. Alex McCleish did an excellent job of keeping Birmingham in the top flight last season, but more impressive was their final position of a top 10 finish and the toughness of his team to be beaten.

The Blues won their first game of the season when coming from a goal down to beat Blackburn Rovers last weekend here at St Andrews. That result followed a point gained from a trip to Sunderland when Birmingham found themselves 2-0 down but scrambled back to 2-2 and split the points. Birmingham reached the 3rd round of this competition last year, winning 1-2 at Southampton during this round.

It is expected that Birmingham, much like other Premier League sides that enter this stage of the competition, will be making changes to their side. Kevin Phillips and Stuart Parnaby are both injured and will not be in the squad.

Rochdale

Rochdale changed the outlook of many generations last season as they finally were promoted from League Two or any of its former guises. The joy of promotion took away a little from the poor form the side experienced during the back end of the season when they lost 7 of their last 9 League games, only winning 1, and this form has carried over to this season.

The side have won 1 game this season from the 4 they have played and lost their last game at the weekend to Colchester at home. Rochdale had to beat Barnsley in the last round to be rewarded with this tie, but that was only their 2nd win in this competition in 9 years and they have not progressed beyond this stage since 1961/62. Rochdale have won just 2 of their last 13 competitive games.

Josh Thompson signed on loan from Celtic for the season and will be included in the squad.

Prediction

Birmingham City may rest players at this stage of the Carling Cup, but are another of those sides like Sunderland and Fulham that will see this as a real opportunity to progress deep into the tournament with the right kind of draws along the way. They are tough to beat, and are strengthening the squad and will feel confident they can progress.

Rochdale have been struggling of late and survival is the goal for the season. They have not played well in the Carling Cup for some time and this is going to be a tough test for them. The side will take heart from the fact they have already beaten a side from divisions above them away from home this season.

The home side have a tendency to win games by the minimum of margins as can be shown by the fact they won 4 cup games last season in the FA and Carling Cup, all by 1 goal. The fact they will be resting players as well will also give Rochdale a chance here to cause a mini-upset although I think it may be beyond them here.

I will try Rochdale on the Asian Handicap but will also keep stakes small in preparation for another weekend of many more options.

The Pick :

Birmingham City 2-1 Rochdale

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Rochdale +1.5 Asian Handicap