Friday 24th February, 19:45
Live on Sky Sports 1
Wolves
Wolves have recorded as many wins in the FA Cup in 2017 (2) as they have in Championship outings this calendar year (W2-D1-L4) and Paul Lambert will be hoping his team display the credentials that earned plenty of plaudits during last weekend's cup exit against Chelsea.
The Old Gold produced a determined performance in defeat against the Premier League leaders but must now invest their focus in league matters, particularly putting emphasis on ending an alarming slide down the second-tier standings.
Wanderers have suffered three successive Championship losses to sit just five points above the relegation zone. The woeful recent run has cranked up the pressure on Lambert, who saw midfielder Connor Ronan ruled out for the season in midweek.
Elsewhere, striker Nouha Dicko may return but forward Joe Mason misses out and defender Mike Williamson continues to struggle. Neither Jordan Graham nor Michal Zyro will play a part in Molineux.
Birmingham
Birmingham plummeted to new lows last weekend when QPR humbled the Blues 4-1 at St Andrew's. It was City's fifth reverse in six and leaves Gianfranco Zola teetering on the brink following a sole success in 14 fixtures since arriving at the club in mid-December.
It's been suggested this encounter is last chance saloon for the Italian to turn the tide and Birmingham will at least be boosted by the return from suspension of midfielders Craig Gardner and David Davis here.
However, strikers Lukas Jutkiewicz and Clayton Donaldson remain sidelined along with Michael Morrison and Jacques Maghoma, left-back Cheick Keita will be assessed and Jonathan Grounds is a fresh injury doubt ahead of Friday's short trip to the Black Country.
Match Odds
Wolves have W5-D3-L1 in their last nine league encounters with Birmingham, going eight years at Molineux without defeat to the Blues (W0-D2-L2) but do the Old Gold deserve to be odds-on here at 1.93? Not for me.
Wanderers have won just twice in front of their home supporters since September and have fired blanks in each of their last three Molineux matches. Performance data correctly chalks the hosts up as pre-match favourites but there's better bets elsewhere.
Birmingham can be backed at 4.70 but City are expected to be friendless having W1-D3-L8 in league games following Zola's arrival. The visitors haven't won an away match outside of London since August and claimed only one victory on the road since September (W1-D5-L7).
Over/Under 2.5 Goals
Each of the past seven renewals of this showdown have paid out in the Under 2.5 Goals market with the most recent two skirmishes in the Black Country resulting in drab goalless draws.
Those seven games featuring a grand total of only six goals and so it's hard to oppose another low-scoring contest on Friday night. Under 2.5 Goals can be supported at 1.78 and looks our best avenue of attack having also proven profitable in Wolves' last three league outings here.
The hosts have notched just 18 goals in 16 at Molineux - only three teams have scored fewer goals on home soil and with Birmingham bagging only 13 goals in 16 away days - again, only three clubs posting a worse record - backing a repeat looks our most likely ticket to a winner.
Recommended Bets
Back Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.78
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