Birmingham v Southampton: mid-table reset meets play-off push | OneFootball

Birmingham City host Southampton in the Championship on Monday, 29 December 2025 at St Andrew's, with the hosts seeking a lift after a winless run and the visitors aiming to edge back towards the top half before the New Year.

Recent head to head favours Southampton, who have won the last three league meetings, including a 3-1 victory earlier this month. Birmingham City sit 15th on 30 points, with the visitors 12th on 31.

Birmingham have taken two points from their last five league games, drawing with Derby after a 3-0 defeat at Sheffield United, but they have been stronger at home with 22 points from 11 matches. The Saints, meanwhile, have two defeats in their last three and have lost their last two away games, at Norwich and Oxford.

Birmingham are without Demarai Gray, Scott Wright and Keshi Anderson, while defenders Ethan Laird, Lee Buchanan and Alexander William Cochrane are out. Christoph Klarer and Thomas Doyle are suspended. Saints list Mads Roerslev and Shea Charles as injured.

Birmingham average 56% possession and deliver a high volume of open play crosses, 407 at 18.18% accuracy, which could supply Jay Stansfield, who has eight league goals. Saints tend to control games with 58% possession and 84.44% passing accuracy. Adam Armstrong leads the Championship scoring chart with 11 goals and Finn Azaz has seven. Given the Saints have conceded 22 away league goals, Birmingham may look to attack early and from wide areas.

A home win would move Birmingham to 33 points and could pull them towards the top half. Victory for Saints would take them to 34 and keep them in touch with the play-off picture. A draw would leave both in mid-table.