Birmingham vs Sheffield United Predictions

Birmingham vs Sheffield United predictions for this EFL Cup clash. Birmingham City face Sheffield United in Wednesday’s EFL Cup first round, with both Championship sides aiming to bounce back from weekend disappointments and advance in the tournament. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.

 EFL Cup | Aug 13 2025 at 8:00 pm UK at St Andrews

Birmingham vs Sheffield United Predictions

Will the Blues’ Home Fortress Survive the Blades’ Response?

• Birmingham have scored in 21 of their last 24 home matches, underlining their consistent attacking output at St. Andrew’s.
• Sheffield United produced 20 shots and 2.30 xG against Bristol City, showing their attacking threat despite a heavy defeat.
• The Blades conceded four goals from just 1.30 xG last weekend, highlighting defensive vulnerabilities that Birmingham’s attackers will be eager to exploit.

Best Bet for Birmingham vs Sheffield United

Wednesday night brings a first-round EFL Cup tie at St. Andrew’s that feels much bigger than a routine early-season cup game. Birmingham City, fresh off a bittersweet Championship opener, welcome Sheffield United, who are licking their wounds after a sobering defeat. Both clubs enter with plenty to prove – one determined to maintain their ironclad home reputation, the other desperate to shake off a shaky start under new management.

Chris Davies’ Birmingham side will still be stewing over Saturday’s draw with Ipswich. They were leading until the dying moments, only to be undone by a contentious stoppage-time penalty. While the frustration lingers, the performance once again underlined their strength on home turf – a venue where last season they went unbeaten in League One and often looked untouchable.

Across the halfway line, Ruben Selles’ first outing as Sheffield United boss was nothing short of chaotic. The Blades dominated the ball, peppered Bristol City’s box with chances, and still somehow contrived to lose 4-1. It was a defensive collapse that raised eyebrows, and while Selles will want a reaction, a trip to a ground where visitors rarely thrive is hardly the easiest setting for a rebound.

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Best Bet for This Match: Both Teams to Score

At BettingTips4You, we stick to one clear selection per match – the one that best balances value, logic, and probability. For this clash, we believe the smartest play is both teams to score.

There’s an obvious pattern here. Birmingham have shown they can create and finish chances against solid Championship defences, as seen in their 11 shots and two big opportunities against Ipswich. They’ve found the net in 21 of their last 24 home matches across all competitions, which isn’t the kind of habit that disappears overnight.

Sheffield United, despite their horror show at the back last weekend, actually looked sharp going forward. They generated 2.30 xG against Bristol City, fired 20 shots, and found good positions inside the box. Louie Barry’s debut showed real promise, with his direct running and willingness to shoot likely to trouble any Championship backline.

The issue for the Blades is that their own defensive setup is far from convincing. Conceding four goals from 1.30 xG is a damning stat, and when you add in aerial weaknesses and vulnerability from set pieces, you start to see why St. Andrew’s will fancy its chances of a home goal or two.

The flip side is that Birmingham’s defence isn’t flawless either. They allowed Ipswich 19 touches in their penalty area and had a poor aerial duel success rate, which is something United’s attackers can exploit.

As BettingTips4You.com expert Steve Harrington put it:

“This isn’t shaping up to be a cagey, tactical affair – both sides have enough firepower and enough gaps at the back to make goals on both ends feel inevitable.”

A 2-2 scoreline wouldn’t be a shock here – the kind of open, unpredictable cup game that keeps neutrals glued until the final whistle.

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