I want to be with Swansea at every opportunity at present, when the price allows, and no reason to think the Capital One Cup holders cannot continue their excellent recent form on Wednesday.
Michael Laudrup’s side have enjoyed a tremendous time since their promotion to the Premier League in 2011 and it was capped with Wembley success in the Spring.
The 5-0 thrashing of Bradford City in the showpiece came after victories away from home over Liverpool and Chelsea in earlier rounds and there was no fluke about Swansea lifting the trophy.
The Welsh club look genuine cup specialists and their opening Europa League group match last week was something to behold.
Admittedly their opponents, Valencia, were reduced to ten men early on at the Mestalla but Swansea swept aside the La Liga stars with the minimum of fuss and St Andrews should hold no fears tonight.
That 3-0 triumph on Thursday was Swansea’s third consecutive away victory, all without conceding, but in contrast Birmingham City have struggled of late.
On the face of it the 4-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday last time out reads well, but on-loan Manchester United player Jesse Lingard grabbed all four goals on a debut to remember and the striker is ineligible this evening.
Prior to that beating of the Owls it was just five wins in 23 Championship matches on home soil, a terrible return, and Birmingham still languish in eighteenth place in the second-tier.
Manager Lee Clark saw his team need extra time to edge past League Two strugglers Plymouth Argyle in round two and I am expecting Swansea to dominate possession, and create more chances, than their hosts.
As holders I’ll be surprised if Laudrup chooses to make wholesale changes to his starting line up and the Swans are tipped to inflict a fifth defeat in eight matches on Blues.
2pts Back Swansea (vs. Birmingham) @ 17/20 (various)