Championship / Andrew French / 19 March 2012 /

Birmingham and Cardiff are very much in the play-off picture and should take three points each from their encounters with Portsmouth and Coventry respectively says Andrew French.

Portsmouth v Birmingham, KO: Tuesday 19:45, Match Odds: Portsmouth [4.1], Birmingham [2.06], The Draw [3.6]

Surely it can only be Birmingham's form before the weekend that is allowing us to back them at greater than even-money in this one? The Blues have been through a sticky patch that saw them go four without a win in the league, but they bounced back to ease past Middlesbrough on Saturday. They also know how to beat struggling teams, having won seven of their previous nine games against teams in the bottom six.

And they don't come much more 'struggling' than Pompey: in administration, eight points adrift of safety and hurtling towards the gaping trap door that leads to League One.

Manager Michael Appleton has seen four players loaned out in the last three weeks, and so it's little surprise that Portsmouth have not won in nine league games. Worse still, they have scored just twice in those nine games. The home fans at Fratton Park have not seen their side win in five attempts going back to early January. Blues look generously priced to add to their woes.

Back Birmingham @ [2.06]

Crystal Palace v Barnsley, KO: Tuesday 20:00, Match Odds: Crystal Palace [1.9], Barnsley [4.9], The Draw [3.6]

It's unlikely, given their current 12-point cushion, that Barnsley have a great deal to worry about in terms of relegation this season; but their alarming slump in form will be of great concern. The Tykes are without a win in six and have lost five of those games, sliding from 14th to 17th in less than a month. They have lost all of their last five away games and have not scored in the last four on the road. Therefore, it's reasonable to expect they are going to struggle to trouble the division's second best home defensive record.

For a mid-table side, Palace are exceptionally miserly at Selhurst Park, conceding 10 goals in 17 games. The reason they aren't doing better on the back of that record is that the Eagles don't score many at home either: just 18 all season. Indeed, Palace home games have produced fewer goals this season than anyone else in the division. More than 75% of Palace's home games have been winners in the Under 2.5 Goals market, and against a side struggling to find the net like Barnsley, I think that will be the case again.

Back Under 2.5 Goals @ [1.72]

Cardiff v Coventry, KO: Wednesday 19:45, Match Odds: Cardiff [1.66], Coventry [5.8], The Draw [4.0]

It's easy to suggest the Carling Cup final as a possible distraction, but something has apparently pulled the rug from under Cardiff's promotion push - and if they don't sort it out soon, then they'll miss out on even the play-offs. Malky Mackay's side have won just one of their last six, and the goalless draw with Burnley on Sunday means the Bluebirds have failed to score in each of their last three home games.

Yet with that old adage that class is permanent while form is temporary in mind, you have to fancy them to beat Coventry. If they don't, then perhaps they don't deserve to be in the end-of-season shake-up.

Coventry's draw at Watford on Saturday was only their fourth away point of the season, and was also their first clean sheet on the road. But the fact the Sky Blues have struggled to stop the steady flow of goals on their travels surely opens the door for Cardiff - especially when you consider they have won all six of their home games against teams 17th or lower and scored 17 goals in the process. Coventry have drawn a blank in 11 of their 18 away games, so the suggestion is to back the home side to triumph and keep a clean sheet.

Back Cardiff Win to Nil @ [2.2]

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