In the match market there is only one way that it makes sense to lean. The Birmingham performances have been strong, they are currently unbeaten in the league with only a late penalty for Ipswich denying the Blues a 100% record.

Leicester, meanwhile, have not impressed. They deservedly lost to Preston, and whilst they won their matches either side of that defeat, they left it late against an undercooked Sheffield Wednesday on othe pening weekend and had to very much hang on against Charlton, who many would have as relegation candidates.

The current match prices are suggesting that these teams are fairly even if they met on neutral ground. On current evidence, I would happily give Birmingham an edge in that case; therefore, I am happy to give Birmingham the draw here as well.

The right winger has been one of the real bright spots in Leicester's performances.

He is a constant threat with his dribbling, and often that dribbling will take him inside onto his stronger left foot and makes him a real shot threat as well.

Whilst I do favour Birmingham in this match in general, I also like Fatawu to provide the major threat for Leicester on the counter-attack, though he can also be dangerous in controlled attacks too.

He scored a great goal to win the match against Charlton, one of two shots that day, and he has also broken this line in each of his other two league matches, with five at Preston and three against Sheffield Wednesday.

There is a little nuance to this bet in that it is especially effective if Laird is playing on the left.

Ostensibly a right back, the form of Bright Osayi-Samuel in that position has meant that Laird has been shifted to the left in place of Alex Cochrane. It is likely that Chris Davies will continue with this policy.

If he does, then Laird looks good value for a shot. He managed two shots against Oxford last time, and one when coming off the bench against Blackburn.

Indeed, Laird averages 1.62 shots per 90 over Birmingham's last 30 matches. The theory of him being on the left means that he can cut inside and shoot on his stronger foot, as well as being a back post threat.

Birmingham look slightly too big in the corner markets.

They only had one corner against Ipswich, but since then they have won the corner battle in every match they have had in all competitions, and five corners has been their lowest total across those four matches.

Opponents of Leicester in the league have had some success in winning corners. Charlton practically hammered Leicester with corners last week, winning 13 of them, and Preston managed to win six as well.

Neumann has been looking likely for a yellow card for a while and finally got one last time out in the EFL Cup.

When a central defender commits the volume of fouls that he has been doing, committing two in each of his last three matches, then it Is likely that one will be in a dangerous area and deserving of a yellow card.

It is a bit of a surprise that this price is still above 2/1 and as such it is worth a place in the longshot.

I am quite bullish on the chances of Birmingham in this match, especially at the prices.

From studying the way that I think that the match will play out, Birmingham should have more control of the game, I am confident that they will generate a greater number of opportunities, dominate territory, and fire off more shots.

When the team that you expect to do that are then the outsiders and priced nearly 2/1, then it seems too big an opportunity to turn down.

Thomas looks a very big price here for a man who averages 1.44 fouls per 90 over Leicester's last 30 matches.

Thomas has committed at least one foul in his last nine matches, with five of those nine going two fouls or more, including one which he made five fouls in.

His direct opponents could be Demarai Gray and Bright Osayi-Samuel. Osayi-Samuel draws more fouls than anyone else on the Birmingham team, 13 in the league so far. Gray also drew three fouls playing right midfield against Blackburn.