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Birmingham v Newcastle: High-scoring affair whatever happens

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"Knowledgeable" Nik Wardle wonders when Michael Owen will start earning his inflated salary as well as telling us why over 2.5 goals is the best on offer in this match

This should be a good game for Setanta viewers. Birmingham have been involved in some
high-scoring games of late, so have Newcastle - albeit many of the goals going into the their own net.

It's generally accepted that things have perked up for The Blues under Alex McLeish. However, they have only won three out of fifteen games since he took over. On the bright
side, Wednesday night's defeat at Portsmouth was the first defeat in five games. Three out of their next four games are against relegation rivals (trips to Reading and Wigan to come), so needless to say this is the start of a big period for Birmingham. A slight worry is that they've failed to beat Reading, Fulham and even Derby at home in the last couple of months.

Whilst looking at the relegation battle in October, I wrote that Birmingham needed to find a
Christophe Dugarry figure - they may well now have that in James McFadden. This player has talent but like a lot of ball-players has just needed to find a club which will fit their attacking system around him. McLeish has decided to do this and it's little surprise to see McFadden enjoying life as a big fish in a smaller pool. Teams who get out of trouble usually rely heavily on set pieces and McFadden is certainly a good exponent on them. He's already scored two penalties and one direct free kick for The Blues.

Newcastle just need a starting point. A goal would be good, as they've not scored for two games and have only scored three times in seven league games under Kevin Keegan. The chances are good, though, as Birmingham have only kept one clean sheet under McLeish. It really is time for the England striker, Michael Owen, or should it be the ex-England striker, Michael Owen, to step forward and begin to pay back his circa £17 million transfer fee and rumoured £110,000 a week wages.

With Newcastle desperate not to lose and Birmingham giving it a right go at Portsmouth in the week, I expect The Blues to be on the front foot. Conceding an early goal could well deflate Newcastle and so The Blues are well advised to get at Newcastle right from the kick off. This will hopefully lead to a high-scoring game. I doubt either side will keep a clean sheet so backing the home side to concede at [1.44 ]and the away at [1.31] are solid, if pretty unprofitable, bets. Birmingham are at [2.44] to be victorious, Newcastle at [3.4], and [3.35] the draw. I certainly predict goals in this match. Backing over 2.5 goals at [2.14] is a conservative bet, over 3.5 at [4.0] a slightly more adventurous one and over 4.5 at [8.8] a risky but not implausible punt.