Wolves started the season well, taking seven points from their opening three matches, but they were brought back down to Earth by West Ham on Wednesday night. Wolves had more possession and shots than the Hammers, but ultimately the hosts generated the better chances and were more clinical.

Wolves are yet to keep a league clean sheet this season, but their quality in the final third has compensated for that vulnerability. Both teams have found the back of the net in every Championship game for Wolves this term, with at least four goals scored in each of those. Chances have been available at both ends, and that trend should be persist here.

It’s a Midlands derby taking place on Sunday night, and these sides will meet for the first time since 2018. Birmingham have returned to the Championship after promotion from League One, while Wolves have come down from the Premier League, making this an eagerly anticipated fixture between two local rivals.

When the teams last met, two yellow cards and a red were shown. In fact, Birmingham have had a player dismissed in four consecutive head-to-head encounters against Wolves between 2016 and 2018, with this selection landing comfortably in all of those matches. Just one point currently seperates the two teams in the league standings at the moment, so another feisty encounter is expected.

Despite having home advantage, Birmingham come into this clash as underdogs. Wolves have retained plenty of Premier League quality and they look incredibly strong in the final third with the likes of Fer Lopez, Rodrigo Gomes and Matheus Mane who like to be direct. The Birmingham midfielders should have their hands full defensively.

Jhon Solis will have to be at his best in the middle of the park, and he isn’t one to shy away from a strong challenge. Last season, the Colombian averaged 1.46 fouls per 90, collecting four yellow cards and one red across 17 Championship appearances. Solis has completed every available league minute this season and he remains an important physical presence for Chris Davies’ side.

Raul Jimenez scored 57 goals in 166 appearances for Wolves between 2018 and 2023 before departing for Fulham. The Mexican international has now returned to Molineux in the hope of helping his former club secure an immediate return to the Premier League.

At 35, Jimenez continues to operate at a high level, and he has already added another two goals to his Wolves tally this season, with both coming from the penalty spot. He provided an assist for Adam Armstrong against Preston, meaning Jimenez has landed this selection in all three Championship appearances so far. Jimenez made 36 Premier League appearances for Fulham last season in the Premier League, during which he scored nine goals, which is an impressive return.

Mateus Mane is another player who has been particularly active in the final third for Wolves this season. He is yet to open his Championship goalscoring account, but that has not been for a lack of trying. The teenager has recorded 15 shots across his opening four league appearances, with four of those efforts hitting the target. That includes five shots against West Ham last time out in a tough matchup, and he was unfortunate to be denied by the woodwork.

As soon as space opens up, Mane tends to let fly and he strikes the ball cleanly. That was also evident in the Premier League last season, when Mane averaged 2.11 shots per 90 for Wolves with 40% of his attempts testing the goalkeeper.

This is the highest rated game in English football on Sunday for Both Teams to Score according to my Goals Sheet.

Birmingham have seen BTTS in their last four games on the bounce, scoring exactly two goals in two of those games.

They only scored one in a 1-1 draw with Southampton last time out, but they created the chances to score more with Jay Stansfield’s finishing letting them down.

Wolves have seen BTTS in every league game this season, with the quality they have they’re capable of finding the net in 46/46 games in the league.

They arrive at St Andrew’s off the back of a 4-2 beating at West Ham on Tuesday night, and Birmingham have the quality to exploit the gaps in their defence.