Birmingham City v Ipswich Town: Match Preview, Odds, Lineups, Prediction

Explore Coral's detailed preview for Birmingham vs Ipswich on matchday 1 of the Championship. Stats, odds, predictions, and lineups for the 20:00 BST match.

• Fixture: Birmingham vs Ipswich

• Date: Friday, 08 August 2025

• Kick-off: 20:00 BST

• Venue: St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park

Both teams will likely approach the game with a sense of unpredictability, as is often the case in opening games of a league campaign. The teams were in different leagues last season, as Birmingham were in League One, while Ipswich were relegated from the Premier League. 

The pair should have strong squads to choose from, potentially leading to a closely contested match where tactical flexibility could play a significant role.

Considering the historical competitiveness between these two sides, as seen in their head-to-head record, a tight and possibly high-scoring game could be on the cards. Both teams will be eager to assert dominance early on, making for an intriguing battle.

Match Prediction: Birmingham 1-1 Ipswich

Birmingham's pre-season form has been a mixed bag, with wins and defeats mixed. Their recent outings have been mostly low-scoring affairs, with under 2.5 goals scored in three of their last four outings. 

A six-game winning run at the end of last season will have the Blues confident of making a winning start to life back in the Championship.

Recent League One Results (2024/25):

• (W) 2-1 vs Cambridge United (03 May 2025)

• (W) 2-0 away at Blackpool (30 Apr 2025)

• (W) 4-0 vs Mansfield (27 Apr 2025)

• (W) 1-0 at Stevenage (24 Apr 2025)

• (W) 2-1 at Burton Albion (21 Apr 2025)

Like the hosts, the Tractor Boys will be looking to kick off life back in the second tier with a victory after suffering relegation last season. Kieran McKenna’s team has enjoyed a promising pre-season campaign, including wins over BW Linz and Aberdeen. The team from Suffolk will aim to build on that form in their Championship campaign. 

The unpredictability of life back in the Championship might lead to a more cautious approach, as they seek to adapt and respond to Birmingham's tactics.

Recent Premier League Results (2024/25):

(L) 1-3 vs West Ham (25 May 2025)

(L) 0-2 at Leicester (18 May 2025)

(L) 0-1 vs Brentford (10 May 2025)

(D) 2-2 at Everton (03 May 2025)

(L) 0-3 at Newcastle (26 Apr 2025)

Historically, the matches between Birmingham and Ipswich have been closely contested, with recent encounters showing a mix of draws and narrow victories for both sides. Ipswich has had the upper hand in the most recent game, winning 3-1, but the overall record suggests a competitive rivalry with no clear dominant team.

Recent Championship Results

• Ipswich 3-1 Birmingham (24 Feb 2024)

• Birmingham 2-2 Ipswich (04 Nov 2023)

• Ipswich 1-1 Birmingham (13 Apr 2019)

• Birmingham 2-2 Ipswich (29 Sep 2018)

• Birmingham 1-0 Ipswich (31 Mar 2018)

• Seung-ho Paik (Unknown injury) - Doubtful

• Lyndon Dykes (Calf injury) - Doubtful

• Sammie Szmodics (Unknown injury) - Doubtful

• Wes Burns (Knee injury) - Out

• 4-2-3-1: Allsop; Sampsted, Klarer, Bielik, Cochrane; Iwata, Doyle; Fujimoto, Willumsson, Hansson; Stansfield

Birmingham's tactical approach is likely to result in a balanced and adaptable performance. The Blues are likely to approach this game with a slightly cautious approach, as the visitors still possess quality in their ranks.

• 4-2-3-1: Muric; Davis, Greaves, Woolfenden, Johnson; Taylor, Matusiwa; Philogene, Hutchinson, Clarke; Hirst

Ipswich is likely to focus on a solid defensive structure while looking to exploit counter-attacking opportunities, as the home team could be a dangerous opponent. 

• Tomoki Iwata (Birmingham) vs. Azor Matusiwa (Ipswich): This duel could be crucial in determining the midfield battle.

• Krystian Bielik (Birmingham) vs Jacob Greaves (Ipswich): The outcome of this matchup might influence the defensive solidity of both teams.

• Jay Stansfield (Birmingham): A key player in Birmingham's attack, his performance could be pivotal in breaking down Ipswich's defence.

• Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich): The versatile England under-21 international impressed last season in flashes in the Premier League. He will be looking to continue his good form in the Championship. 

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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.