Birmingham City vs Ipswich Town: Odds, Lineups, Predictions, Preview Match Day One

Explore Ladbrokes’ detailed preview for Birmingham vs Ipswich in the Championship. Stats, odds, predictions, and lineups for the 20:00 BST match. With Birmingham back in the Championship after promotion from League One and Ipswich relegated from the Premier League, this season opener at St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park promises a competitive clash.

• Fixture: Birmingham vs Ipswich

• Date: Friday, 08 August 2025

• Kick-off: 20:00 BST

• Venue: St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park

Birmingham, fresh off a six-game winning streak to secure League One promotion, enter with confidence but face a tough test against an Ipswich side adapting to life back in the Championship after Premier League relegation. Both teams’ pre-season form suggests unpredictability, with Birmingham’s low-scoring games contrasting Ipswich’s promising wins over BW Linz and Aberdeen. Expect a tight, potentially high-scoring battle, with Birmingham’s home advantage and Ipswich’s quality leading to a draw.

Match Prediction: Birmingham 1-1 Ipswich

Birmingham’s pre-season showed mixed results, but their six-game winning run to end the 2024/25 League One season highlights their momentum. Their low-scoring outings (under 2.5 goals in three of four pre-season games) suggest a cautious approach, but the home crowd at St. Andrew’s will push them to exploit Ipswich’s defensive adjustments.

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)

Ipswich, under Kieran McKenna, aim to kick off their Championship return with a strong performance after relegation. Their promising pre-season, including wins over BW Linz and Aberdeen, suggests they can play attractive football. A cautious approach may be needed to counter Birmingham’s home energy, with a focus on defensive solidity and counter-attacks.

Recent Championship Results (2023/24):

• (W) 2-0 vs Huddersfield Town (04 May 2024)

• (W) 2-1 at Coventry City (30 Apr 2024)

• (D) 3-3 at Hull City (27 Apr 2024)

• (D) 1-1 vs Middlesbrough (13 Apr 2024)

• (D) 0-0 vs Watford (10 Apr 2024)

Recent encounters between Birmingham and Ipswich have been competitive, with Ipswich winning 3-1 in their last meeting, but Birmingham securing a win and two draws in the prior four games. This balanced rivalry suggests a tight contest with no clear favorite.

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

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

Birmingham’s lineup suggests a balanced approach, blending defensive solidity with quick counter-attacks. They’ll aim to use the home crowd’s energy to pressure Ipswich while staying cautious against their quality.

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

Ipswich’s setup focuses on defensive structure and counter-attacking opportunities. Their midfield and attacking options will look to exploit Birmingham’s defence while adapting to the Championship’s intensity.

• Tomoki Iwata (Birmingham) vs Azor Matusiwa (Ipswich): This midfield duel could dictate the game’s tempo, with Iwata’s energy facing Matusiwa’s composure.

• Krystian Bielik (Birmingham) vs Jacob Greaves (Ipswich): This defensive matchup will be crucial in maintaining solidity for both teams.

• Jay Stansfield (Birmingham): His attacking prowess could be pivotal in breaking down Ipswich’s defence.

• Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich): The versatile England U21 international’s flair and goal-scoring ability make him a potential game-changer.

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