Birmingham v Southampton: play-off push meets free-scoring start | OneFootball

Birmingham City face Southampton in the Championship at St Andrew's on Tuesday, 1 September 2026, with the hosts protecting an unbeaten league start while the visitors have struck nine goals in three games.

Birmingham City sit eighth after one win and two draws. Southampton are 18th. The visitors have dominated this fixture recently, winning three of the last four meetings, with the other drawn.

Birmingham drew at Sheffield United, then shared four goals with Bristol City before edging past Wrexham 2-1 away. Saints rebounded from defeat at Watford with home wins over Stoke City and Millwall, including a 5-1 thrashing last time out.

Birmingham are without Demarai Gray and midfielders Max Bird and Taylor Gardner-Hickman through injury. The Saints list Flynn Downes and Caspar Jander as injured.

The Saints average 59% possession and 87.15% passing accuracy, producing 36 shots and nine goals. Cyle Larin is joint top of the scoring chart on four, with Finn Azaz supplying two assists. Birmingham have delivered 53 open-play crosses at 22.64% accuracy and scored two headers, with defender Phil Neumann on two league goals, so wide service and set pieces could be a route in.

Birmingham, currently eighth, could strengthen their play-off footing with a win. The Saints, in 18th, may climb towards the mid-table pack if their attacking form carries onto the road.