Leicester vs Birmingham predictions for this FA Cup fixture. Leicester City, pausing their Championship campaign, host Birmingham City at the King Power Stadium for Saturday’s FA Cup fourth-round showdown. Read on for our free FA Cup predictions and betting tips.
FA Cup | Fourth Round – Jan 27, 2024 at 3pm UK at King Power Stadium
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Leicester City vs Birmingham Predictions
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King Power Showdown: Leicester’s Home Prowess Meets Birmingham’s Resilience
Key Stats
– Birmingham have lost nine of their last 13 away games, highlighting their vulnerability on the road.
– Leicester City boasts an impressive attacking record with an average of 2 goals per game in the Championship.
As we approach the exciting fourth-round clash of the FA Cup at the King Power Stadium, Leicester City and Birmingham City prepare to lock horns in what promises to be a gripping contest. Leicester, having recently experienced a dip in their Championship title chase, will look to regain momentum. On the other hand, Birmingham, under Tony Mowbray’s leadership, arrive with renewed vigour, having navigated past Hull City with late drama in the third round.
Leicester City: Navigating Through Mixed Fortunes
Leicester City’s journey in the FA Cup has been a mix of high drama and solid performances. The highlight was undoubtedly Italian starlet Cesare Casadei’s dazzling display against Millwall, a game that also saw Tom Cannon and Ricardo Pereira contributing crucially. Despite their recent Championship setbacks, including a surprising loss to Coventry City and a stalemate with Ipswich Town, Leicester’s lead in the league is still commanding. Their home form remains a strong suit, with a six-match unbeaten streak at the King Power Stadium.
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Birmingham City: Rising Against the Odds
Birmingham’s path to the fourth round wasn’t without its challenges, requiring a replay and late heroics against Hull City. The arrival of Tony Mowbray has injected a new spirit into the team, evidenced by a vital win against Stoke City and an impressive four-game unbeaten streak across all competitions. The Blues have shown resilience and an ability to rise to the occasion, setting the stage for an intriguing encounter with Leicester.
Team News and Expected Lineups
Leicester City’s Potential Formation and Key Absences
Leicester’s squad faces several absences, with key players like Harry Souttar and Kelechi Iheanacho away for international duties. Additionally, injuries to Abdul Fatawu and Wilfred Ndidi leave gaps to fill. Enzo Maresca might resort to rotating his squad, with potential changes including Hamza Choudhury’s likely benching due to off-field issues.
Leicester City’s Expected Starting XI: Stolarczyk; Pereira, Doyle, Coady, Justin; Praet, Winks; Albrighton, Dewsbury-Hall, Akgun; Vardy
Birmingham City’s Squad Dynamics
Birmingham’s squad sees the inclusion of Andre Dozzell, though he’s cup-tied for this match. Their injury concerns include Marc Roberts and Ethan Laird, although there’s optimism about their return. The experienced John Ruddy is expected to be back in goal, with Gary Gardner likely to return to midfield.
Birmingham City’s Expected Starting XI: Ruddy; Drameh, Bielik, Sanderson, Buchanan; Gardner, James; Miyoshi, Bacuna, Dembele; Stansfield
Tactical Analysis and Gameplay Expectations
Leicester City’s Tactical Approach and Strengths
Leicester City, under Maresca, have shown a preference for maintaining ball possession and building attacks methodically. Their attacking prowess is evident in their average of 2 goals per game, with a solid defence backing them up. Key players like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jamie Vardy will be crucial in breaking down Birmingham’s defence.
Birmingham City’s Strategy and Potential Threats
Birmingham, with a lesser possession average, might adopt a more pragmatic approach, focusing on counterattacks and set-pieces. Players like Jay Stansfield and Juninho Bacuna could play pivotal roles in exploiting Leicester’s defensive vulnerabilities.
Highly Opinionated Analysis and Managerial Critique
Strengths and Weaknesses of Leicester City
Leicester’s strength lies in their balanced attack and solid defence, but they can be susceptible to quick counterattacks. Maresca’s side must capitalise on their home advantage and attacking depth to overcome Birmingham’s resilience.
Birmingham’s Prospects and Challenges
Birmingham’s lower possession stats and lesser goals per game indicate a need for more clinical finishing. Mowbray’s tactics of resilience and opportunistic play have their merits, but they face a stern test against Leicester’s robust defence.
Critical Evaluation of Managers
Enzo Maresca has shown adeptness in balancing attack and defence, but his side’s recent inconsistency raises questions. Mowbray, despite instilling a fighting spirit in Birmingham, must address the team’s offensive shortcomings to make a significant impact in this match.
Key Player Duels and Decisive Areas
The midfield battle, particularly between Leicester’s Dewsbury-Hall and Birmingham’s Bacuna, could be pivotal. Additionally, the defensive capabilities of Leicester’s Ricardo Pereira against Birmingham’s attacking threats will be key. The match could well be decided in these critical areas, with individual duels potentially tipping the balance.
Match Predictions and In-depth Analysis
Prediction 1: Handicap Market – Leicester City to Win with a -1 Handicap
Leicester City’s formidable home form presents a compelling case for a win with a -1 handicap. The Foxes have consistently demonstrated their ability to not just win but do so with a margin at the King Power Stadium. Their attacking statistics, boasting an average of 2 goals per game, coupled with a solid defensive record, indicate their proficiency in controlling matches and securing comfortable victories. In contrast, Birmingham’s struggles on the road, losing nine of their last 13 away matches, further strengthen the likelihood of Leicester overcoming the handicap. The combination of Leicester’s attacking flair, exemplified by players like Jamie Vardy and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, against Birmingham’s less formidable away record, sets the stage for a victory exceeding a single-goal margin.
Prediction 2: Correct Score – Leicester City 4-1 Birmingham City
The prediction of a 4-1 victory for Leicester City hinges on their consistent goal-scoring prowess and Birmingham’s defensive vulnerabilities. Leicester’s offensive strength is evident in their home matches, where they have scored at least three goals in four of their last five games. Birmingham City, while capable of finding the net, has shown defensive frailties, particularly in away fixtures. This assessment leads to the expectation of Leicester dominating the game offensively, but Birmingham’s fighting spirit and recent form under Tony Mowbray suggest they could breach Leicester’s defence at least once. This scoreline reflects Leicester’s attacking dominance combined with a likely defensive lapse allowing Birmingham to score.
Prediction 3: Goalscorer Prediction – Jamie Vardy to Score
Jamie Vardy, with his exceptional track record and predatory instincts in front of goal, is a prime candidate to score in this encounter. His ability to exploit spaces in opposition defences, combined with Leicester’s creative midfield, increases the likelihood of him getting on the scoresheet. Vardy’s experience and agility make him a constant threat, especially against a Birmingham defence that has shown susceptibility in away games. His knack for crucial goals in important matches further bolsters the prediction of him finding the net.
Prediction 4: Corner Prediction – Leicester City to Have More Corners; Total Corners Over 9
Predicting Leicester City to win more corners and a total corner count exceeding 9 is based on both teams’ playing styles and tendencies. Leicester’s attacking approach, characterised by wide play and crosses, naturally leads to a higher number of corner opportunities. Their average of 5.1 corners per game in the Championship supports this trend. Birmingham, despite their lower corner average, also contributes to this prediction, as their defensive approach, especially in away games, might result in conceding corners. The overall gameplay, with Leicester’s attacking dominance and Birmingham’s potential defensive stance, suggests a high corner count, making the prediction of over 9 total corners a reasonable expectation.
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