Leicester City vs Birmingham City Prediction: Leicester are pushing for automatic promotion

Leicester will welcome Birmingham at King Power Stadium in Game Week 41 of the English Championship. Leicester are pushing for automatic promotion spots. Who will come out on top after 90 minutes?

Leicester form

After only winning one of their last six Championship matches and going three straight games without a victory in all competitions, concerned Leicester fans were worried when Gabriel Sara scored for Norwich from a corner. However, Leicester made a comeback with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall equalizing before halftime, followed by goals from Stephy Mavididi and Jamie Vardy securing their first win at the King Power since February 13. Despite Leeds United and Ipswich Town also winning on Easter Monday, Enzo Maresca's team remained in third place in the Championship, having played one game less than their competitors. Leicester fans were pleased to see Wilfred Ndidi, Harry Winks, and Dewsbury-Hall performing well in midfield once again. Leicester had previously faced Birmingham in a FA Cup fourth-round match in late January, where they emerged victorious with goals from Vardy, Akgun, and Praet.

After earning a spot in Maresca's first-team due to injuries earlier in the season, Tom Cannon is now back in the Leicester medical room with a leg injury. The team is also missing Kasey McAteer on the flanks, putting more creative responsibility on players like Mavididi and Abdul Fatawu. Another Leicester young player, Ben Nelson, is dealing with a leg injury as well, solidifying Jannik Vestergaard and Wout Faes' spots at centre-back. 

Leicester Predicted Lineup

Hermansen; Pereira, Faes, Vestergaard, Doyle; Ndidi, Winks, Dewsbury-Hall; Fatawu, Mavididi, Daka.

Birmingham form

After seven consecutive Championship matches without a win following the temporary absence of Tony Mowbray due to a medical issue, interim manager Gary Rowett guided Birmingham City to a crucial victory at St Andrew's on Monday afternoon. The team's fans were treated to a memorable day thanks to the efforts of the players and the forward-thinking ownership of the club.

In a match that seemed headed for a disappointing draw, an unexpected slip by Liam Lindsay gave Jay Stansfield an opportunity to break free in the Preston half. The Fulham loanee remained composed and confidently scored past Freddie Woodman, much to the delight of the supporters in the Tilton Road end.

The celebrations continued for Blues supporters as Birmingham-born band UB40 performed a special concert after the match, offering a glimpse of the exciting events planned by owner Tom Wagner for the future 'super stadium' on the Wheels site.

Despite the festive atmosphere, Birmingham fans are aware that there is still work to be done to ensure Championship safety this season. Currently in 20th place, only two points ahead of Huddersfield Town in 22nd, Rowett's team must remain focused in their final six matches.

The victory over Preston was crucial, especially considering Birmingham's recent struggles against Leicester City. The team had lost seven consecutive matches against the East Midlands club, but did manage to earn a draw at the King Power in April 2013. Birmingham will be without Lukas Jutkiewicz due to an injury sustained in their last match, potentially leading Rowett to opt for a defensive strategy with Lee Buchanan playing as a centre-back. Jordan James is expected to play in the midfield alongside Krystian Bielik and Paik Seung-ho for Birmingham. 

Birmingham Predicted Lineup

Ruddy; Laird, Aiwu, Sanderson, Buchanan; Paik, Bielik, Miyoshi, James, Bacuna; Stansfield.

Leicester vs Birmingham Expert Tips

Leicester needs to secure a win against Birmingham to stay in contention for automatic promotion. Despite Birmingham's recent success, Leicester is expected to come out on top in this match.