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Birmingham v Southampton

Just a month ago Birmingham were 14th in the table - four consecutive league victories later and they sit fourth. If you add in FA Cup successes against Wolves and Sheffield United, the Blues have won their last six and are unbeaten in 10 in all competitions.

They are the only team in the Championship protecting an undefeated home record, and have been scoring goals for fun: 20 in their last six games. The fact they are hosting Southampton is probably offering us slightly fatter odds than if they were playing at home to just about anyone else.

The Saints have stuttered slightly of late, but you still have to admire what has been an outstanding season for a side that, never forget, was in League One last season. The Saints topped the table from mid-September until late January, but eventually their run of two wins in seven league games took its toll. Nigel Adkins' side have won only one of their last five away from home, and their results on the road have not been outstanding: indeed, they have not won away to a top-half team this season. The South Coast side are worthy promotion contenders, but in their current form you have to back Brum.

Back Birmingham @ 2.16


Burnley v Peterborough

In early November, Peterborough were sitting just outside the play-off places after a solid start to the season built largely around their ability to score goals. But a run of just two wins in 12 has seen them slide down to 17th, and just recently, the goals have dried up as well. Posh have drawn a blank in three of their last four in all competitions, and you have to go back to early December for the last time they netted more than once in a game: for a side that managed 39 in its first 20 league games, that is a bit of a drought.

Burnley, on the other hand, are on a bit of a run. They have lost just once in their last seven league games, but more eye-catching is that Eddie Howe's side have kept six clean sheets in that period. They have let in just one goal in their last five league games at Turf Moor - the price for them to manage another shutout looks very tempting.

Back Burnley Clean Sheet @ 2.74


Bristol City v Leeds

I actually feel a bit sorry for Simon Grayson. There are teams doing far worse than Leeds whose managers have not even had a whiff of the sack, although clearly expectations are far higher at Elland Road. However, emotions aside, a run of two wins in eight league outings isn't great, and they have not won in their last four away games. Managerial departures always unsettle squads, because there will always be enough players who liked the outgoing gaffer regardless of what the boardroom thought. So, squad uncertainty and poor away form combine to present Bristol City with an excellent opportunity to ease their relegation fears.

The Robins were bottom in mid-October but under Derek McInnes they have slowly edged away from the drop zone, and are currently 19th and six points clear of the bottom three. They have won four of their last six at Ashton Gate, and have conceded only five goals in their last seven games.

Back Bristol City @ 2.52

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