The 2025-26 Championship season gets underway on Friday 8th August at 8pm with Birmingham City hosting Ipswich Town at St Andrews. Neither side were in the Championship last season, with Birmingham promoted from League One and Ipswich relegated from the Premier League. This game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Football. Find our match preview and best bets from expert tipster Anthony Eadson below.
Sammie Szmodics Over 0.5 Shots on Target (4/5 with BetMGM)
The last time Sammie Szmodics played in the Championship he won the golden boot award, after scoring 27 goals for Blackburn Rovers in 2023-24. I see no reason why he can’t get close to that figure once again, for an Ipswich side who looked primed to be fighting for the title under the magic Kieran McKenna.
In his final three Premier League starts for Ipswich last season, Szmoidcs recorded five shots on target, giving plenty of appeal to the 4/5 for him to record one or more against Birmingham. It’s also worth noting that Szmodics recorded at least one shot on target in 11 of his last 12 Championship starts.
Leif Davis Anytime Assist (4/1 with Betway)
There is a slight doubt over the fitness of Leif Davis; however, if he is a confirmed starter at St Andrews, I’ll be taking plenty of the 4/1 that is available for the Ipswich left-back to record an assist. Betway and bet365 both go 4/1, implying a 20% chance of success, but after a massive 18 assists in his last season in the Championship. I feel that price is too big. Over the course of his career, he averages 0.36 assists per 90 and can open his account for the new campaign in the Midlands.
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How both teams go into Birmingham vs Ipswich
Birmingham’s stay in League One was a brief one. The Blues spent just one season in a third tier before securing promotion back to the Championship. They did it in emphatic fashion too. Birmingham broke the record for the most points in a single English Football League season, with 111.
Birmingham have struggled in the second tier, with their relegation in 2023-24 a long time coming. The Blues suffered eight consecutive bottom-half finishes in the Championship, with three of those seeing them 20th or lower. But the Blues have long odds to go down, as much as 50/1 with some bookmakers.
Ipswich were also out of the Championship for just one season, though their stay was in the Premier League. The Tractor Boys’ long-awaited return to the Premier League didn’t go to plan as they finished 19th with just 22 points.
With the financial backing of the parachute payments, Ipswich are fancied for an immediate return to the Premier League. But it’s hard to tell how they’re going to fare back in the Championship. That’s because they only spent one season in the second tier as part of back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League.
Birmingham team news
Birmingham have been busy in the summer, bringing in seven new players. That includes a return to Birmingham for Demarai Gray, having come through the club’s academy. Birmingham will hope Jay Stansfield, Ethan Laird, Lyndon Dykes and Kanya Fujimoto are all available after some injury issues in pre-season.
Ipswich team news
Wes Burns remains out long-term with a knee injury, but Sammie Szmodics has been involved in pre-season training. Ipswich have added three new faces to their team after relegation. Leif Davis and Jaden Philogene will be assessed closer to kick-off.
Birmingham vs Ipswich head-to-head
Ipswich are unbeaten in their past four games against Birmingham, but three of those have been draws. The Tractor Boys won the most recent meeting in the 2023-24 Championship campaign.
| Date | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 24/02/24 | Ipswich 3-1 Birmingham | Championship |
| 04/11/23 | Birmingham 2-2 Ipswich | Championship |
| 13/04/19 | Ipswich 1-1 Birmingham | Championship |
| 29/09/18 | Birmingham 2-2 Ipswich | Championship |
| 31/03/18 | Birmingham 1-0 Ipswich | Championship |