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The EFL Trophy quarter-final stage sees Stevenage take on Birmingham City at Lamex Stadium on Tuesday evening, with a spot in the semi-finals up for grabs. Alex Revell’s Stevenage are making waves in this competition, having notched back-to-back clean sheets en route to the last eight, while Chris Davies’ Birmingham City arrive on the back of an impressive 10-game unbeaten run across all competitions. This promises to be a thrilling encounter between two sides brimming with confidence but with contrasting styles of play.

Interesting Fact: Birmingham City have won the EFL Trophy twice before, in the 1990-91 and 1994-95 seasons, while Stevenage are aiming for their first semi-final appearance since 2013-14.

Team Analysis

Home Team: Stevenage

Stevenage have defied expectations in the EFL Trophy this season, showcasing resilience and efficiency despite mixed results in League Two. After finishing second in their group stage, they thrashed Burton Albion 4-0 before edging past Leyton Orient thanks to an own goal from Brandon Cooper. Their recent form has been excellent, winning four consecutive matches in all competitions, including two shutouts in the EFL Trophy. Manager Alex Revell will hope his side can maintain this momentum as they aim for a historic semi-final berth.

• Current Form:
  Last 6 matches: 4 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss.
  Last match: 1-0 win over Leyton Orient in the EFL Trophy.
• Key Players:
  • Murphy Cooper : Solid goalkeeper who has kept two clean sheets in the EFL Trophy.
  • Lewis Freestone : Providing defensive stability and composure at right-back.
  • Elliot King : Creative midfielder who orchestrates play from deep.
• Injuries/Suspensions:
  • Luther James-Wildin (doubtful, fitness test)
• Home Form:
  Stevenage have been strong at Lamex Stadium this season, recording multiple victories and showing impressive resolve in high-stakes fixtures.

Away Team: Birmingham City

Birmingham City enter this fixture as one of the standout teams in both the EFL Trophy and League One. With 63 points from 27 matches, they lead the promotion race, buoyed by an unbeaten streak stretching back to November. In the EFL Trophy, they’ve been equally dominant, scoring 15 goals in five matches while remaining unbeaten. Their attacking prowess, combined with solid defending, makes them formidable opponents for any team.

• Current Form:
  Last 6 matches: 6 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses.
  Last match: 2-1 win over Rotherham United in League One.
• Key Players:
  • Keshi Anderson : Dynamic winger whose pace and skill pose a constant threat.
  • Tomoki Iwata : Midfield maestro who controls the tempo and provides creativity.
  • Che Adams : Leading scorer for Birmingham, netting crucial goals throughout the season.
• Injuries/Suspensions:
  None reported. Davies has a fully fit squad to choose from.
• Away Form:
  Birmingham have won eight of their last nine away matches across all competitions, demonstrating their ability to perform under pressure.

Head-to-Head and Past Encounters

While these two sides rarely meet in competitive fixtures, Birmingham City’s superior quality and experience give them an edge heading into this clash. However, Stevenage’s recent form and home advantage cannot be underestimated, particularly in cup competitions where anything can happen.

Prediction

Goal.mu/Mauri.bet predicts: Stevenage 1-2 Birmingham City

Despite Stevenage’s impressive run in the EFL Trophy, Birmingham City’s depth and consistency make them slight favourites for this quarter-final. Expect a closely contested affair, with Birmingham’s attacking flair proving decisive in the end. The Blues should secure progression to the semi-finals, albeit after a tough challenge from their hosts.

Betting Tips

1. Both Teams to Score: Yes
   Both teams possess enough firepower to breach each other’s defences, making this a likely outcome.
2. Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Over
   Given Birmingham’s attacking prowess and Stevenage’s recent tendency to score, we anticipate more than two goals in this match.
3. Anytime Goalscorer: Che Adams
   As Birmingham’s top scorer, Adams is always capable of finding the back of the net and could make the difference here.

Hot Stat

Birmingham City have scored 15 goals in just five EFL Trophy matches this season, averaging three goals per game—a testament to their clinical finishing and attacking intent.

Possible Lineups

Stevenage (4-2-3-1):

Cooper; Freestone, Piergianni, Sweeney, Freeman; King, Phillips; Reid, Kemp, Roberts; Appere

Birmingham City (4-3-3):

Allsop; Cochrane, Davies, Klarer; Laird, Iwata, Gardner-Hickman, Dowell, Anderson; Stansfield, Dykes