Blackburn Rovers will host Birmingham City on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at 14:00 GMT, in the second round of the EFL Championship. The match will take place at Ewood Park in Blackburn, which has a capacity of 31,367 spectators. The appointed referee for this football clash is Oliver Langford from England.
This is an early-season encounter with different goals for both teams — Blackburn aiming to bounce back from a poor start, and newly-promoted Birmingham seeking to maintain momentum after returning to the Championship. With both sides eager for their first league win of the campaign, fans can expect a competitive and tactically intense battle.
BETTING TIPS AND MATCH INSIGHTS
Before diving into form guides and head-to-head records, it’s important to understand the key angles for the Blackburn Rovers vs Birmingham City prediction today. This match offers an interesting contrast between a team struggling for form and another riding the high of promotion. Birmingham enter with early confidence after their League One title and a solid start, while Blackburn are still looking to find rhythm. The head-to-head record heavily favors Blackburn at home, but Birmingham’s current momentum could challenge that trend. Both teams have attacking threats capable of changing the game in moments, and their tactical setups will be crucial. Expect a close contest where small margins decide the outcome.
Current Championship standings for Blackburn Rovers vs Birmingham City August 16, 2025
Below is the current league table position for both teams ahead of this match:
[statsfc-table key=”VYAX6i45amW5R5Z5MavnepM5vb4GC7S2mSDCdFRI” competition=”CHP”]Blackburn Rovers Results
Blackburn started the season with a narrow league defeat and an early EFL Cup exit. Valerien Ismael’s side needs a turnaround, especially in front of their home fans. Their recent form shows inconsistency, with a mix of pre-season wins and losses.
| Date | Competition | Matchup | Result | W/L |
| 12.08.25 | EFL | Blackburn vs Bradford City | 1-2 | L |
| 09.08.25 | CHA | West Brom vs Blackburn | 1-0 | L |
| 02.08.25 | CF | Nijmegen vs Blackburn | 3-1 | L |
| 25.07.25 | CF | Elche vs Blackburn | 0-1 | W |
| 22.07.25 | CF | Qatar SC vs Blackburn | 1-5 | W |
Blackburn have suffered back-to-back competitive defeats, struggling to score goals in both league and cup. Their pre-season showed attacking potential, particularly in the 5-1 win over Qatar SC, but defensive lapses remain an issue. The inability to respond after conceding first is a concern. Home advantage could be vital here, as Ewood Park has been a fortress historically against Birmingham.
Birmingham City Results
Birmingham return to the Championship in strong spirits after winning League One with a record points tally. They’ve carried that confidence into early matches, earning points and advancing in the cup. Their summer signings are gradually integrating into the squad.
| Date | Competition | Matchup | Result | W/L |
| 13.08.25 | EFL | Birmingham vs Sheffield Utd | 2-1 | W |
| 08.08.25 | CHA | Birmingham vs Ipswich | 1-1 | D |
| 02.08.25 | CF | Birmingham vs Nottingham | 1-0 | W |
| 26.07.25 | CF | Northampton vs Birmingham | 3-0 | L |
| 26.07.25 | CF | Port Vale vs Birmingham | 0-2 | W |
Birmingham’s unbeaten start in competitive fixtures shows early resilience. Jay Stansfield has been a standout performer, scoring in both league and cup matches. Their defensive setup has been generally solid, though the defeat to Northampton in pre-season highlighted vulnerabilities. Away form will be tested here, as they haven’t won at Ewood Park since 2013.
Blackburn Rovers vs Birmingham City Head-to-Head Results
Blackburn have historically dominated this fixture at home, while Birmingham have struggled to secure points at Ewood Park. However, recent encounters have been competitive, with both sides earning wins.
| Date | Competition | Matchup | Result |
| 13.02.24 | CHA | Birmingham vs Blackburn | 1-0 |
| 29.11.23 | CHA | Blackburn vs Birmingham | 4-2 |
| 01.04.23 | CHA | Birmingham vs Blackburn | 1-0 |
| 31.01.23 | FAC | Birmingham vs Blackburn | 0-1 (after extra time) |
| 28.01.23 | FAC | Blackburn vs Birmingham | 2-2 |
Blackburn have been the stronger side at home, scoring multiple goals in several recent meetings. Birmingham, however, have proven they can edge out narrow wins, particularly at their own ground.
Predicted lineups for Blackburn Rovers vs Birmingham City
Before kickoff, here’s how both teams are expected to line up for this Championship football clash. These predicted lineups are based on the latest team news, recent selections, and tactical preferences of each manager. They provide a likely preview of the starting elevens fans might see at Ewood Park.
Blackburn Rovers (4-4-2): Michalski (GK), Montgomery (DF), Miller (DF), Wharton (DF), Pickering (DF), Tronstad (MF), Cantwell (MF), Tavares (MF), De Neve (MF), Henriksson (FW), Gueye (FW)
Birmingham City (4-2-3-1): Allsop (GK), Osayi-Samuel (DF), Neumann (DF), Klarer (DF), Cochrane (DF), Iwata (MF), Paik Seung-Ho (MF), Gray (MF), Willumsson (MF), Anderson (MF), Furuhashi (FW)
Unavailable players
Both teams enter with key absences. Blackburn miss defender Hayden Carter (knee) and midfielder Adam Forshaw (hamstring). Club captain Lewis Travis is also unlikely to feature due to transfer negotiations. Birmingham will be without Kanya Fujimoto and Marvin Ducksch due to fitness issues, and Scott Wright is sidelined with a knee injury.
Key Factors to Watch in Blackburn Rovers vs Birmingham City
Both sides have storylines that can heavily influence the match outcome:
- Blackburn’s poor start with two consecutive competitive defeats;
- Birmingham’s confidence after promotion and strong early results;
- Jay Stansfield’s scoring form for Birmingham;
- Blackburn’s excellent home record against Birmingham historically;
- Defensive lapses in Blackburn’s back line;
- Birmingham’s unbeaten run in opening away league matches for six seasons;
- Key injuries to starting players on both teams;
- Possible tactical adjustments from Valerien Ismael to regain form.
Free Tips on Blackburn Rovers vs Birmingham City
This section provides deeper insights based on advanced match factors to help inform your betting decisions:
- Home ground dynamics: While Birmingham have been unbeaten in opening away matches for years, Ewood Park has historically been a tough place for them, and understanding the psychological pressure could be key;
- Attacking setups: Birmingham’s ability to break quickly with players like Stansfield and Furuhashi might trouble Blackburn’s high defensive line, especially given recent early goals conceded;
- Squad rotation impact: Both teams played midweek cup games, so evaluating potential fatigue and rotation choices is crucial before placing bets;
- First-half performance trends: Birmingham have scored early in several matches, which could influence in-play betting strategies on first-half markets;
- Transition battles: This match could be decided in midfield transitions — Birmingham’s double pivot against Blackburn’s central pairing may dictate possession and control.
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Match Prediction 2025 – Blackburn Rovers vs Birmingham City
Considering the form and available players, Birmingham appear better prepared for this encounter. Their early momentum, attacking options, and recent performances suggest they can exploit Blackburn’s current defensive instability. While Blackburn’s home record is notable, their struggles to score and missing key players tilt the balance towards the visitors. Evaluating the Blackburn Rovers vs Birmingham City odds, the value seems to be on an away win, possibly with a clean sheet given Birmingham’s defensive discipline. Expect a tight match where Birmingham’s sharper execution in attack and midfield control could be decisive.
Our Prediction: Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Birmingham City
| Prediction Type | Prediction | Odds |
| Match Winner | Birmingham City to Win | 2.33 |
| Total Goals | Under 2.5 Goals | 1.59 |
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