A bumper clash between promotion hopefuls Birmingham and Ipswich kicks off the Championship campaign and we have compiled a Bet Builder on the game which pays out at 15/4.
The 2025/26 Championship season kicks off at St Andrew’s Stadium on Friday night as League One champions Birmingham raise the second-tier curtain against an Ipswich side targeting a swift return to the Premier League.
The Blues won the third-tier title at a canter last season as they racked up a record 111 points, and some shrewd summer additions have put them in the mix for promotion candidacy this season.
However, Ipswich ran riot under Kieran McKenna the last time they were in the Championship, and a win for either side on Friday would be a statement of intent.
Selections
Both teams to score @ 4/5
Ipswich or draw double chance @ 11/20
Jay Stansfield to have 2+ shots @ 1/5
Jaden Philogene to have 1+ shot on target @ 4/7
Pays out at 15/4
Tractor Boys backed to put points on the board
Birmingham have been priced up as slight favourites to take all three points on their return to the Championship, but Ipswich are well positioned for a promotion battle and should be able to avoid defeat at St Andrew’s Stadium.
The Tractor Boys understandably struggled in the Premier League, but they were a revelation under Kieran McKenna in their promotion-winning 2023/24 campaign.
They lost a league-low six games all season as they finished second to Leicester, and they begin the season having won all four pre-season friendlies, so they should be good for at least a point on Friday.
However, the visitors are unlikely to have it all their own way against a side who scored 47 goals in 23 home games last season.
The Blues have spent a significant amount of money to secure their Championship future and, with Ipswich conceding in three of their four friendlies, expect both sides to find the net.
Stansfield and Philogene to star at St Andrew’s
When it comes to the players expected to make the difference for Birmingham this season, top scorer Jay Stansfield is the standout pick.
He scored the only goal in the Blues’ final pre-season game against Nottingham Forest after recovering from a minor knock, and he is expected to lead the line against Ipswich after manager Chris Davies admitted that new arrival Kyogo Furuhashi needs time to acquaint himself with the club and the league.
Stansfield scored 19 times in League One last season and hit the net 12 times as Birmingham were relegated the season before. He had 106 shots last term, registering at least two attempts in each of his last six starts.
At the other end of the pitch, January arrival Jaden Philogene is the man to watch for Ipswich.
The 23-year-old had eight shots on target in his six starts for the Tractor Boys, and he excelled in the Championship for Hull a couple of seasons ago, hitting the target 39 times in 33 appearances.
