'Champagne on ice' – Bristol Rovers vs Birmingham City prediction: The72
03/31/2025 03:30 AM
Birmingham City head to Bristol Rovers in a League One fixture impacting opposite ends of the table on Tuesday night.
Birmingham City have been flying high atop League One. A comprehensive 4-1 win over strugglers Shrewsbury Town at the weekend leaves the question being when, not if, BCFC will secure Championship football next season.
A 3-1 loss away at Bolton Wanderers last month was only Blues’ third all season. With a 12-point buffer above the play-offs with games in hand, the Birmingham camp will be relaxed heading into this fixture.
February’s dramatic 2-1 win over Bradford City booked BCFC a place at Wembley for the EFL Trophy final. With this fixture fast approaching, Chris Davies’ City may have one eye on their chance for silverware.
Hosting the table-toppers is only the beginning of a very tough run-in for Bristol Rovers. Still to play a number of promotion-chasing sides, the Gas will have to find a way to grind out results if they are to keep their heads above water.
Three successive defeats have left Bristol Rovers looking over their shoulder. A 2-1 defeat to Mansfield Town has diminished faith that their current gap above the relegation zone is sufficient.
Rovers enter the contest on a poor run of form as they continue their slide towards the bottom four. Two sides below Inigo Calderon’s men have a game in hand over Rovers to make up ground on their six point buffer above the drop zone.
Here, a handful of our writers make their predictions for this game…
James Clement
“Bristol Rovers are losing confidence in their six-point buffer above the relegation zone by the week. Poor defensive displays against sides they will have reasonably hoped to take points off has left them needing results in their tougher fixtures.
“Birmingham City could not feel more the opposite. Dominating the league all season, champagne is virtually on ice in the Midlands.
“Whilst Rovers arguably need the points more, I feel they will need a minor miracle to escape Birmingham City’s war path.”
Prediction: Bristol Rovers 0-3 Birmingham City
James Ray
“Birmingham City remain on course in their title bid and it is hard to see Bristol Rovers having anything to stop them in this one.
“The Gas have lost three in a row and it isn’t out of the question that they drop into the bottom four. Burton Albion have a game in hand and a win in that would really put the pressure on.
“Rovers’ focus will be on the Blues next though, and I do’t think they’ll have much of a say here. I’m going for a routine away win with BCFC maintaining their title tilt while the Gas fail to put any more distance between them and the drop.”
Prediction: Bristol Rovers 0-2 Birmingham City
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