9th Aug 2014 | Championship
Championship Relegation Tip: Birmingham City
They relied upon a 93rd minute goal on the final day to stay up last season, but the lift that gave the club can't conceal a woeful lack of quality.
Everyone has seemingly made up their minds that Blackpool will be crashing out of the Championship this season due to financial reasons but a team who actually finished behind the Tangerines in 2013-14 must also be in peril, but at a much more attractive price.
Whereas Blackpool are nothing longer than 4/6 (Betfred) for the drop, Birmingham City are still available at 4/1 (Skybet) for relegation with six teams shorter in the market. Quite simply, the Blues should be one of the favourites.
Lee Clark’s troops survived last season thanks to a 93rd minute equaliser on the final day which condemned Doncaster to League One on goal difference. Despite those heroics, it would be hard to say they pulled out all the stops when it mattered most. Moreover, the Blues lost five of their last six outings and picked up a pathetic 16 points from 23 games in the second half of the season.
Clark has made changes in the summer but it remains to be seen if quality has truly been added and if new faces can settle quickly. On the debit side, the loss of key midfielder Tom Adeyemi to Cardiff is a hefty blow with Clark admitting to being ‘gutted.’
Having conceded more goals (75) than bottom club Yeovil and everyone bar Barnsley last term, Birmingham could well see the trap-door open too wide to avoid come next spring.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 12:15 9th Aug, 2014 but subject to change
