Birmingham City vs Ipswich Town Predictions, Lineups & Betting Tips

Match Details: August 8, 2025 | St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park | EFL Championship | 20:00 (BST)

St. Andrew's sets the stage for a compelling Championship opener this Friday night, as Birmingham City, fresh off their record-breaking League One title triumph, welcomes Ipswich Town, who return to the second tier following a brief stint in the Premier League. This fixture represents a fascinating clash of ambitions: a revitalised Birmingham eager to establish themselves in the Championship, and an Ipswich side, armed with parachute payments, aiming for an immediate return to the top flight. Both teams have seen significant transfer activity and will be keen to lay down an early marker. While Ipswich's pre-season has shown a potent attack, Birmingham's defensive resilience at home will be a key factor. Expect a tactical battle where every inch of the pitch will be contested. We foresee a cagey affair, with our algorithm leaning towards a 1-1 draw, as both sides look to avoid defeat on the opening night.

Key Betting Tip: A draw and Both Teams to Score at 3.90 odds (Kwiff Bet) represents excellent value based on the tip provided by our team of in-house tipsters.

Birmingham City vs Ipswich Town Predicted Lineups

Birmingham City Predicted XI: James Beadle, Alex Cochrane, Phil Neumann, Christoph Klarer, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Tommy Doyle, Tatsuhiro Iwata, Keshi Anderson, Kyogo Furuhashi, Jay Stansfield, Demarai Gray

Ipswich Town Predicted XI: Alex Palmer, Ashley Young, Jacob Greaves, Dara O'Shea, Ben Johnson, Ansu Matusiwa, Jack Taylor, Jack Clarke, Sammie Szmodics, Jaden Philogene, George Hirst

Wes Burns’ ongoing ACL injury will keep him out until mid-October.

Birmingham City vs Ipswich Town Current League Standings

As this is the season opener, there are no EFL Championship standings as of now. Neither of these teams played in this division last season. Birmingham City won League One with a record-breaking 111 points, including 34 wins and three losses. Ipswich Town were relegated from the Premier League, finishing in 19th with 22 points.

Birmingham City vs Ipswich Town Head-to-Head Timeline

This pair had regular top-flight meetings in the 70s and 80s, and competed in the second tier together in more recent years. They have met 85 times overall, Birmingham have won 30 times, Ipswich have won 36 times, and there have been 19 draws. The Blues have notably failed to win any of the last four meetings.

Recent Head-to-Head Results:

• February 2024: Ipswich Town 3-1 Birmingham City
• November 2023: Birmingham City 2-2 Ipswich Town
• April 2019: Ipswich Town 1-1 Birmingham City
• September 2018: Birmingham City 2-2 Ipswich Town
• March 2018: Birmingham City 1-0 Ipswich Town

Recent Birmingham City and Ipswich Town Matches Analysis

Birmingham City Last 5 Matches:

• Birmingham City 1-0 Nottingham Forest (Friendly)
• Northampton Town 3-0 Birmingham City (Friendly)
• Port Vale 0-2 Birmingham City (Friendly)
• Birmingham City 1-0 Solihull Moors (Friendly)
• Crewe Alexandra 4-0 Birmingham City (Friendly)

The Blues’ preseason looks slightly misleading, but their first-team squad overcame Premier League opposition in the shape of Nottingham Forest to give themselves momentum heading into the regular season.

Ipswich Town Last 5 Matches:

• Auxerre 0-3 Ipswich Town (Friendly)
• Ipswich Town 2-1 Charlton Athletic (Friendly)
• Aberdeen 1-3 Ipswich Town (Friendly)
• Blau Weiss Linz 1-4 Ipswich Town (Friendly)
• Ipswich Town 1-3 West Ham United (Premier League)

The Tractor Boys have won their last four games straight, shaping them up perfectly for the upcoming Championship campaign.

Birmingham City vs Ipswich Town Predictions

Our advanced algorithm analyses over 200 data points to generate these predictions with confidence in both teams to score. The model factors in current form, head-to-head records, player availability, and tactical matchups.

Best Birmingham City vs Ipswich Town Betting Tips

Football Park’s Best Bet: Both Teams to Score and a Draw @ 3.90 (Kwiff Bet) - Our team of in-house betting tipsters have predicted both teams to score in this fixture. Their superior form, home advantage, and head-to-head record justify confidence in this selection.

Key Players to Watch: Birmingham City vs Ipswich Town

Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City): Jay Stansfield has a proven track record of being a goal threat. He was a key figure for Birmingham's attack last season, scoring a significant 19 League One goals that contributed to their promotion. He is expected to lead the line and will likely be the primary source of goals for the Blues. His goal in a pre-season victory over Nottingham Forest is a good indicator of his current form.

Sammie Szmodics (Ipswich Town): Last time Szmodics was in the Championship, he finished as the top-scorer with 27 goals for Blackburn. His ability to find space and finish chances from midfield makes him a prime candidate for an anytime goalscorer bet. Given that Ipswich is expected to be a strong attacking side, Szmodics will be at the heart of their goal-scoring efforts.

Birmingham City vs Ipswich Town Match Facts

Broadcast Details: This game will be available to watch on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football, and the Sky Go App.

Referee: N/A

Stadium Information: St Andrew's, known since 2024 for sponsorship reasons as St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park, is an association football stadium in the Bordesley district of Birmingham, England. It has been the home ground of Birmingham City Football Club for more than a century. The seating capacity of the modern stadium is 29,409. It has played host to events in other sports, including rugby union and professional boxing, and more recently has staged music concerts. It is the third largest sporting venue in the West Midlands behind Villa Park and Molineux Stadium.