Birmingham City vs Port Vale for this EFL Cup. Birmingham City face Port Vale at St Andrew’s on Tuesday evening in a cross-division EFL Cup second-round encounter. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
EFL Cup | Aug 26 2025 at 7:45 pm UK at St Andrew’s
Birmingham City vs Port Vale Predictions


Could the Valiants Test the Blues at Fortress St Andrew’s?
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- Home fortress blues: Birmingham have lost just one of their last 17 matches at St Andrew’s, winning 14 of them, making the ground a nightmare for visitors.
- Port Vale’s blunt attack: The Valiants have failed to score in three of their last four matches, underlining their struggles to adapt to League One defences.
- Winning streak momentum: Birmingham have put together three straight victories in all competitions, scoring four goals and conceding just once in that stretch.
Best Bet for Birmingham City vs Port Vale
Birmingham City to Win with a Two-Goal Margin | |
23/20 - odds when tipped | |
Reasoning Birmingham’s imperious home form, coupled with Port Vale’s lack of cutting edge, makes a strong Blues victory highly likely. Expect the Championship side to dominate, score multiple goals, and progress with authority. |
The EFL Cup second round throws up an intriguing Midlands clash as Birmingham City welcome Port Vale to St Andrew’s on Tuesday evening. On paper, it looks like a straightforward night for the Championship side, but if football were that predictable, bookmakers would have shut shop decades ago.
Birmingham arrive with confidence coursing through their veins after an unbeaten start to the campaign. Their 1-0 win over Oxford at the weekend, courtesy of Paik Seung-Ho’s composed finish, pushed them into fifth place in the Championship table. Chris Davies’s men aren’t just grinding results—they’re doing it with an assuredness that makes their fans whisper about back-to-back promotions, even if it’s far too early for such talk.
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For Port Vale, the picture is less rosy. Promotion last season brought optimism, but life in League One has been harsh. Darren Moore’s team are still searching for their first league victory, with Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Doncaster another reminder of the gulf in quality. Still, their away record has offered them some respite, and a shock result at Bloomfield Road in the previous round, where they toppled Blackpool, proves they can spring surprises.
It sets up nicely: Birmingham, buoyant and at home, versus a Port Vale side desperate to find momentum. The magic of the cup thrives on nights like these.
Best Bet for This Match: Birmingham City to Win with a Two-Goal Margin
Here at BettingTips4You, we don’t believe in flooding readers with multiple selections. Instead, we give you the one bet we think stands tallest above the rest—the Best Bet. For this clash, the ultimate pick is Birmingham City to win by at least two goals.
Why this? Because form, context, and numbers all lean towards the hosts having too much for their League One opponents. It’s not a reckless gamble—it’s a calculated decision.
Why You Should Back This Prediction
The case for Birmingham is compelling. They’re unbeaten this season, with three wins from four matches, and their home record is nothing short of spectacular. Losing just once in their last 17 outings at St Andrew’s is a stat that screams dominance. Fourteen wins in that period underline just how uncomfortable opponents find it in the Blues’ backyard. Port Vale may have resilience on the road, but this is a different challenge entirely.
In attack, Davies has options. Even with Alex Cochrane nursing a knock and Scott Wright sidelined, there’s enough creativity and finishing quality in the side to make life tough for Port Vale’s backline. The likely inclusion of Willum Thor Willumsson adds dynamism on the wing, while Furuhashi through the middle provides the finishing touch. And let’s not forget the balance provided by midfielders like Iwata and Leonard, who allow the flair players to thrive.
Port Vale, on the other hand, have not scored in three of their last four outings. Darren Moore is expected to shuffle the pack, with Jayden Stockley and Ben Waine potentially leading the line. But even with fresh legs, they’ll need something extraordinary to pierce a Birmingham defence that has looked composed and rarely panicked so far this season.
As BettingTips4You.com expert Luca Pratesi explains:
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“Cup ties like this often tease at the possibility of an upset, but Birmingham’s home strength is simply overwhelming. With momentum, quality, and a fortress-like St Andrew’s behind them, they should have no problem securing a comfortable win.”
The sensible conclusion is that Birmingham won’t just edge this—they’ll make a statement.
Likely Correct Score: Birmingham City 3-1 Port Vale
A narrow 1-0 wouldn’t do justice to the gulf between these sides, while a total rout feels harsh given Port Vale’s decent away resilience. A 3-1 scoreline strikes the right balance: Birmingham scoring freely, but the Valiants grabbing a consolation through their persistence.
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