West Brom vs Birmingham Prediction & Betting Tips (10 October)

West Bromwich Albion host Birmingham City at The Hawthorns on Saturday, 10 October 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 12:30 BST in this Sky Bet Championship clash, live on Sky Sports+. The Baggies sit fifth in the early table with 14 points, while Birmingham are tenth on 11 points, making this Black Country derby a meeting of two sides separated by only three points. Historically the rivalry favours the hosts, with West Brom winning eight of the last 16 league meetings between the sides, Birmingham five and three ending level, including the goalless draw at St Andrew's in February of this year.

West Brom come into the derby having lost their unbeaten away record at Molineux, going down 1-0 to Wolves, before that they were held at home by QPR in a 1-1 draw. James Morrison's 2026/27 squad has been reshaped with real ambition: Jimmy-Jay Morgan, a £4m signing from Chelsea, leads the line and tops the scoring charts with five goals, while Isaac Price has chipped in with four from midfield. Summer recruits Toby Collyer (£3m from Manchester United), Barney Stewart from Falkirk, Aune Heggebø and Felix Horn Myhre add depth, although winger Mikey Johnston remains a long-term absentee after ankle surgery.

Birmingham, now in their second consecutive Championship season, remain notoriously difficult to beat, having lost just once in their opening eight league games. Their main blemish came at Carrow Road, where they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Norwich, but Chris Davies' men responded impressively, winning at Derby and drawing 2-2 at home to Middlesbrough last time out. The Blues' 2026/27 squad blends experience with new blood: James Beadle starts in goal behind a defence marshalled by Christoph Klarer, Phil Neumann and summer signing Dael Fry, while Demarai Gray, Carlos Vicente, August Priske and Jay Stansfield provide the attacking threat in a side that has drawn five of its eight matches.

The bookmakers see this as a tight contest, with European odds pricing a West Brom win at around 2.30, the draw at 3.50 and a Birmingham victory at roughly 3.10. The Baggies' home strength, Morgan's hot streak in front of goal and Birmingham's tendency to share the points point towards a narrow home success in a fixture that rarely disappoints for drama. Our prediction: West Brom 2-1 Birming