- Southampton are currently 24th in the Championship 2026/2027 after picking up -1 point from 2 matches, so the Saints have work to do.
- Birmingham City are 4th in the Championship 2026/2027 with 5 points from 3 matches, so the Blues have made a positive start.
- Birmingham have scored 2.00 goals per match at home in the Championship 2026/2027, so the Blues can still hurt Southampton.
A cagey contest could be on the cards
Birmingham have had a mixed start to the Championship 2026/2027 season, but they've had some good moments in that time. The Blues drew 2-2 with Bristol City in their Championship opener, before being thumped 1-6 by Brentford in the EFL Cup and bouncing back with a 1-2 away win at Wrexham. In their last 5 matches, Birmingham have won two, drawn two and lost one, so they have spirit.
Nicknamed the 'Blues' for their silver and blue stripes, Birmingham are set up in a 4-2-3-1 by Chris Davies. The set-up allows the Birmingham manager to dictate a physical style of play, using pressure, tempo changes and set-piece routines to frustrate and hurt their opponents. Demarai Gray has added a spark between the lines in their recent games, scoring 2 of Birmingham's 6 goals in their last 5.
Phil Neumann leads Birmingham's Championship scoring with 2 goals in 3 appearances, so the Birmingham striker can certainly punish defences.
A Saints in a rut
Southampton beat Stoke 3-1 in the Championship 2026/2027, but were then dismantled 1-4 by West Ham in the EFL Cup last time out, so the quality of Saints' play is erratic. 3 wins and 2 defeats in their last 5 makes for a decent overall form line, but the Saints are currently adrift at the foot of the table.
Tonda Eckert has the team playing a flexible 4-2-3-1 system, with ball-dominant rotations and coordinated pressing as players rotate into space. The rotation is more natural than the Birmingham set-up, but it still suits the physical players the manager has at his disposal. Cyle Larin is Southampton's focal point up top with 2 goals in 2 Championship appearances, but they will need more of a return from the Canadian international if they are to find consistent results.
There is a clear favourite
Birmingham are listed as slight favourites in the 90 minutes market, but 13/10 is a shade too short for the hosts against 91/50 for the visitors. St Andrew's has seen Birmingham draw once and lost none in one game this season, so it hasn't been a fortress for the home side.
The last meeting between these two in the Championship 2025/2026 was a 1-1 draw at St Andrew's Knighthead Park, so this is a fixture that can swing either way. Southampton have 1 loss from 1 away game in the Championship 2026/2027, but have conceded 2.00 goals per game on the road, which is also a concern.
A Birmingham win or draw feels most likely, but Southampton's head-to-head edge in this fixture keeps this one live.
