Watford looking to improve on good start

In the English Championship, it’s already blow by blow at the start of the season, the games are closely timed. Birmingham still don’t really know where they stand at the moment. The game at home against Watford should shed some light on that.

In the run-up to the match between Birmingham and Watford, the odds show the visitors as favourites. Watford have had a relatively good start to the new season so far and look capable of playing a good role despite some changes.

Watford could finish off their good start with a win at Birmingham and immediately establish themselves in the top flight of the Championship. The hosts, of course, will want to prevent that from happening. The game kicks off on Tuesday at 20:45.

Birmingham – Statistics & current form

Birmingham City, a traditional club from England, still have some catching up to do under new coach John Eustace. The first three games were nothing more and nothing less than solid, a 0:1 at Cardiff last confirmed this impression. Four points from three games is a decent start, but not one to cause euphoria. Too many elements in the game, especially with the ball, are not yet working as planned.

Not too much happened at Birmingham in the summer. The team was only able to introduce five external newcomers, and one or two new players would certainly look good in the squad. Prominent names were not really there either, so that the squad as a whole is not one of the best in the league. An intervention in the race for promotion is therefore not to be expected.

The statistics for the whole season don’t read very well either. There has only been one win in the last ten games, that was on matchday 2 of this season against Huddersfield Town. In addition, there were four draws and five defeats. Birmingham must be careful that they don’t end up playing against relegation. At least the defence has made a decent impression so far in the three games of the new season.

Birmingham want to stabilise

A goal difference of 2:2 after three games shows which approach Birmingham want to take in the new season. Compactness is the name of the game for now. This approach comes as little surprise, after all, the hosts conceded a whopping 75 goals in pre-season. After the first three games against admittedly not the best individual teams in the league, however, doubts remain as to how sustainable the new approach will be.

With four games last season in which four goals were conceded and two games in which Birmingham conceded six, doubts are justified. Recently, the team played with a three-man backline, which gave the team stability. Now, however, they face a test against a team with a strong game.

So far, Birmingham have only been able to show some development. The hosts will certainly be put under pressure by Watford in some phases. Because the defence is improved but not yet outstanding, our prediction before the Birmingham vs Watford game is that both teams will score.

Predicted Birmingham line-up:
Ruddy – Sanderson, Trusty, Roberts – Colin, Chang, James, Placheta – Bacuna – Jutkiewicz, Deeney

Last Birmingham games:

Championship
13/08/2022 – Cardiff 1 – 0 Birmingham

Carabao Cup
10/08/2022 – Norwich (4)2 – 2(2) Birmingham

Championship
06/08/2022 – Birmingham 2 – 1 Huddersfield

30/07/2022 – Luton 0 – 0 Birmingham

Club Friendlies
23/07/2022 – Birmingham 2 – 2 Rayo Vallecano

Watford – Statistics & current form

Watford FC have made a thoroughly good start to the new season. The Hornets of coach Rob Edwards have been able to add some smart reinforcements to the squad, which is currently paying off. The team already looks quite stable and with seven points from three games so far, they have done well to establish themselves at the top. A win at Birmingham would, of course, improve that position.

The Championship is an extremely difficult and tough competition, with so many games to come that a period of weakness from the good teams does not necessarily mean an end to their promotion hopes. Watford have a lot on their plate and will at least want to put themselves in position when it comes to the play-off places for promotion at the end of the day.

In fact, Watford have gone two of their three games in the new season without conceding a goal. So there has been no spectacle yet, although the games have been much more open and had more to play for than the results (1-0, 1-1, 1-0) would indicate. Watford are already making their mark in the forward play, but are still a little too wasteful with their chances.

Watford seem to be doing well with the new start

Watford were relegated from the Premier League last season, and quite rightly so based on the stats. The Hornets were too weak defensively, conceding a total of 77 goals. 27 defeats in 38 games illustrate what a poor season the visitors have had. The many changes in the summer were badly needed if they were to play a good role this season without the mortgage of experience from 2021/22.

Although both teams have not yet been able to produce anything spectacular offensively in the first three match days, both squads are equipped with some good players, especially on the offensive side, and Watford in particular have already left a lot to be desired. For this reason, our value tip for the Birmingham vs. Watford match is that more than 2.5 goals will be scored.

Predicted Watford line-up:
Bachmann – Mario Gaspar, Sierralta, Kabasele, Rose – Kayembe, Choudhury, Cleverley – Sarr, Sema, Joao Pedro

Last matches played by Watford:

Championship
13/08/2022 – Watford 1 – 0 Burnley

09/08/2022 – West Bromwich 1 – 1 Watford

02/08/2022 – Watford 1 – 0 Sheffield United

Club friendlies
23/07/2022 – Watford 0 – 0 Southampton

16/07/2022 – Watford 4 – 1 Wycombe

Birmingham – Watford Direct Comparison / H2H Record

The direct comparison between the two teams is relatively even. Watford come to 21 wins in the direct duel, Birmingham currently has 17 won games. The hosts naturally want to reduce this gap. The last time the two met in the Championship was in 2020/21, when Watford won both games.

Birmingham – Watford Tip

Quality differences can definitely be seen between the two teams, Watford seem to have a bit of an edge and the bookmakers also have the visitors as favourites. The Hornets look very solid so far, Birmingham not yet really.

Offensive approaches were already to be seen on both sides, but not many goals yet. A spectacle should not be expected, but before the game Birmingham against Watford our tip is that both teams will score at least once.