BIRMINGHAM CITY v CLUB BRUGGE
Football – Europe – EUFA Europa League Group H
Thursday 3rd November 2011 – Kickoff: 2005hrs

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Hosts Birmingham City will be glad to return to familiar surroundings in this competition following away fixtures at NK Maribor and Club Brugge as they entertain Brugge in the return fixture at St Andrews on Thursday night.

Birmingham City

Birmingham City have been something of a surprise package in Group H where the hot favourites to qualify from the group before proceedings began would undoubtedly been Braga from Portugal and Club Brugge.

However, after a 2-1 win a fortnight ago, the midlands club will be looking to do the ‘double’ over the Belgian outfit and steal a march on the rest of the group.

The Blues started their Europa League campaign in slow fashion losing 1-3 at home to Braga, but back-to-back away wins at Maribor and Club Brugge now see them joint top of Group H with tonight’s opponents which will add that extra edge to the encounter I’m sure. Birmingham’s overall record stands at 2-0-1 5/5.

Domestically, Birmingham are enjoying a six match unbeaten run which has lifted them up into 9th place just three points adrift of the play-off zone, but they have at least two games in hand over their Championship counterparts.

This unbeaten sequence has seen Birmingham beat Nottingham Forest and Bristol City away, while seeing off Leicester City and Leeds United at St Andrews. They have only conceded once in their six home matches in the Championship and have kept eight clean sheets in all competitions.

The Blues are hard to break down at home and it’ll be interesting to see what formation manager Chris Hughton decides on given they’re playing the joint top side and will be desperate not to lose this one.

Club Brugge

Club Brugge will certainly not be taking Birmingham City lightly in this return fixture following their recent 1-2 loss at home to the Championship side, and I suspect Brugge will be quite happy with a draw.

The Belgian side stats are almost identical to their hosts; 2-0-1 5/3, with wins over Maribor 2-0 at home and an important 2-1 win at FC Braga which has set them up well.

However, Brugge are on a three match losing streak domestically with losses against Kortrijk and Genk in the Pro League and crashing out of the Cup against Gent on penalties. This type of form is not ideal going into a Europa League match, particularly given the fact that they’ve conceded 11 goals in these three preceding fixtures.

The Betting Verdict :

The form side then is undoubtedly Birmingham but I am wary of Club Brugge who recorded that fine win at Braga in the earlier round.

I’m therefore going to back Birmingham here but with the round ball asian handicap (+0) as my main pick – Birmingham City to sneak it 1-0 as a scoreline.

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Value Pick :
Consider Birmingham City to win at 2.40 at Stan James

HANDICAP BETTING :

Main Pick :
Take Birmingham City AH+0 at 1.64 at Ladbrokes