- Birmingham have a four-point lead in League One and are eyeing a Premier League scalp
- Newcastle have already booked a Wembley trip after reaching the Carabao Cup final
- Recommended bet: Under 2.5 goals

It has already been a memorable week for Newcastle after they confirmed their place in the Carabao Cup final with a 4-0 aggregate semi-final win over Arsenal, but they face a potentially tricky FA Cup tie at big-spending League One leaders Birmingham on Saturday.

The Blues have lost just once at St Andrews this season and will fancy their chances of posting a big upset.

Team news

Lee Buchanan has been ruled out for the Blues but hopes are high that Seung-Ho Paik and Willum Willumson could be involved.

Meanwhile, Joelinton, Harvey Barnes and Jamaal Lascelles are all ruled out for the Magpies.

The stats

Birmingham are unbeaten in 18 matches, winning 15 of them.

Eight of the Blues’ last 11 matches at St Andrews have featured fewer than three goals.

Birmingham have kept five clean sheets in their last seven home matches.

Newcastle have won their last five away games.

Both teams have scored in six of the Magpies’ last nine away games.

Newcastle striker Alexander Isak has scored nine goals in his last six road outings.

Prediction

Newcastle have just a few days to recover after booking their trip to Wembley for the Carabao Cup final and Eddie Howe’s side will have to be on the ball if they are to avoid a FA Cup shock at Birmingham.

The Blues’ big spending is getting the job done in League One, where they enjoy a four-point lead at the head of affairs, but while an immediate return to the Championship will be the club’s immediate priority, they would love to claim a notable cup scalp.

They have failed to win just three of their last 18 matches, which will obviously increase their confidence, but many of their matches have been relatively low-scoring and that could give punters a way in for what looks a difficult fixture.

Eight of their last 10 league fixtures have featured fewer than three goals and the quality of their defending at St Andrews has been excellent, which points to another close game.

The Magpies have scored 13 goals in their last five away matches, but Howe could elect to make a few changes and the City defence could once again prove difficult to break down, so it is worth taking a chance that the clash will fail to generate three goals.

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