CHELSEA VS BIRMINGHAM PREMIER LEAGUE BETTING TIPS

While most punters are keeping their eyes firmly-fixed on the United vs City clash happening today in the Carling Cup, there’s quite a few other solid matches kicking off today as well. Chief among them is the Chelsea vs Birmingham match where the Blues are looking to get back to the top of the table and take full advantage of their two games in hand on Manchester United.
Blue Square have priced Chelsea at 2/7 for the outright win while Birmingham trade at a massive 12/1. The draw is a much more plausible 4/1 and I fancy that to take a fair amount of betting volume considering the minor miracles that Alex McLeish has been able to unfurl in the second city.
Even Chelsea on a (-1.0) handicap are still trading at odds-on with an 8/11 price tag. You’ll find Birmingham (+1.0) trading at a very solid 13/5.
The lowest-priced correct score call is 2-0 to Chelsea at a very slim 5/1 while a 1-1 draw pays a massive 11/1. 2-2 will get you a very solid 25/1 and if you’re a Birmingham fan, I’d take a second look at that option. I could very much see that happening and a price like that is worth a bash every now and then if you really believe in your side. I wouldn’t advise that for a Pompey or a West Ham bet, but for high-flying Birmingham I’d say get out there and give it a go.
Even Chelsea fans can make a bit of quid off Birmingham’s ability to give trouble to the big teams. Chelsea/Chelsea in the half-time/full-time market is a slim 8/13 while Draw/Chelsea pays 10/3.
Didier Drogba is favoured to get the business done for Chelsea at 8/11 while Nicolas Anelka trades at 4/5 to score anytime. Daniel Sturridge is a slim 11/10 while Frank Lampard and Salomon Kalou trade at 5/4 and 11/8. I don’t see Kalou playing in this one though.
Cameron Jerome looks to be the go-to guy for Brum and he’s priced alongside Cristian Benitez at 3/1 anytime with Kevin Phillips trading at 4/1. James McFadden is listed at 5/1 while Gary McSheffrey and Lee Bowyer trade at 6/1.
Chelsea are firm favourites, but Birmingham are unlike any other team in the division. If they come out with one of their best performances of the season, and they control the flow of the match as much as they can, I fancy them to get the draw- at least.