Derby vs Birmingham prediction, odds and how to watch

Derby made their three shots on target count in a 2-0 win at Portsmouth, with Sammie Szmodics and substitute Lars-Jørgen Salvesen doing the damage against a Portsmouth side that mustered 21 shots but could not convert a single one.

Southampton created four big chances and missed three of them as Birmingham dug in for a 1-1 Championship draw, with Keven Schlotterbeck's header cancelled out by August Priske's second-half equaliser.

Brentford produced a thoroughly controlled performance to beat Birmingham 6-1 in the Carabao Cup, with the contest effectively settled by half-time as the visitors' structural dominance and aerial threat proved far too much for the hosts to handle.

Two sides yet to win in the Championship this season meet at Turf Moor on Saturday, with Burnley's stubborn home draws offering them a platform they have so far failed to convert, and Derby arriving with goals in them but precious little defensive structure to speak of.

Birmingham arrive at St Andrew's having drawn their opening two Championship games, while Middlesbrough carry an xG profile that suggests they are creating far more than their results show. Saturday's fixture has the makings of a tight, tactical contest where structure will decide everything.

Derby carry the weight of a difficult opening to their Championship campaign into a home fixture against a Birmingham side that has quietly built a platform of defensive solidity. The tactical questions here are more interesting than the table positions suggest.

West Brom arrive at Pride Park on Wednesday with a maximum six points from their opening two Championship games, while Derby are still searching for a winning pattern after a stuttering start to the 2026/27 season.

Rangers have offered Celtic just 300 tickets for their League Cup quarter-final at Ibrox, down from roughly 8,000 away fans at March's disorder-hit Scottish Cup tie. Celtic manager Martin O'Neill says the club should reject the allocation outright, calling it a betrayal of one of football's great fixtures.