Birmingham vs Ipswich Predictions

• Both teams have scored in three of Ipswich’s four pre-season friendlies
• Both teams have scored in the last four head-to-head meetings, including two 2-2 draws
• Two of Ipswich’s final four away Premier League matches last season finished 2-2

Blues and Tractor Boys among promotion favourites

Two similarly-sized clubs that moved in opposite directions last season clash on the opening night of the new Championship campaign when Birmingham host Ipswich Town at St Andrew’s.

The Blues romped to the League One title last season, finishing almost 20 points clear of Wrexham, and will be looking to challenge for automatic promotion again this term. Chris Davies’ side have made some splashy summer signings to bolster the spine of their side and should be there or thereabouts in the end-of-season shake-up.

Ipswich arrive as Championship title favourites after a summer in which they held on to their sought-after manager and many of the players that he guided to promotion to the Premier League two campaigns ago. Kieran McKenna’s men may still need to fend off some late transfer window offers for key men, but the squad that he has at his disposal for this game appears good enough to match their 96-point tally from 2023-24.

Town don’t lack firepower after Delap departure

Obviously, the loss of Liam Delap has been tough on the Tractor Boys. But George Hirst was beginning to step up last season and the Scotland international has carried on where he left off with some sharp from in pre-season. Ipswich have proven Championship goal-getters in Sammie Szmodics, Nathan Broadhead and Ali Al-Hamadi too while there is talk they could be looking to add another striker before the window closes.

Both teams are bedding in new players and may not be fully up to speed for this Friday night clash, but the prospects for an entertaining game are good. Both teams have scored in three of Ipswich’s four pre-season friendlies and their approach to away games in the Premier League last term was to have a go.

Two of Town’s last four away league matches finished 2-2, at Chelsea and Everton, and that score could offer some value in correct score betting given two of the last four head-to-head encounters between the clubs also finished that way.