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The Championship season begins with a meeting between Birmingham and Ipswich, as both sides prepare for their return to the division from differing fortunes. Birmingham set records when easing to the League One title and have bolstered their squad considerably this summer, but they face a tough opening test against the Tractor Boys, who were relegated from the Premier League. BET £10 GET £30 IN FREE BETS WITH TALKSPORT BET Blues to frustrate Tractor Boys on Championship comeback Two seasons ago Birmingham were the surprise team to drop down to League One on the final day, but they wasted no time in getting themselves out of the division. The Blues spent big last summer to make sure their League One stay was a fleeting one, including the owners breaking the division's transfer record in a permanent deal for Jay Stansfield. That certainly paid off as they amassed a staggering 111 points and blew their rivals away to secure an immediate return to the Championship, but their ambition has not stopped there. The Blues have varied their targets in the transfer window. They have brought in experienced wingers on the global stage in Demarai Gray and Bright Osayi-Samuel, exciting young loanees Tommy Doyle, Eiran Cashin and James Beadle, as well as a marquee buy on proven goal machine Kyogo Furahashi. It has been a mixed pre-season for Chris Davies's side, with four wins and three losses, but they have been widely tipped as contenders for another promotion. St Andrew's will be a cauldron as they bid to knock one of the division's best teams off their perch. Ipswich's team could be a class above though, even if their model of buying the best Championship players last season saw them finish 18th and way off safety. There has not been much transfer movement, bar club stalwarts Sam Morsy and Massimo Luongo moving on, and they have managed to keep a squad stacked with Sammie Szmodics, George Hirst, Jack Clarke, Jaden Philogene and Jacob Greaves together for now. It looks as if they have beaten Birmingham to the signing of Chuba Akpom too, and as the red-hot favourites to go straight back up, this is the season the pressure will be on Kieran Mc Kenna to deliver. This could be one of the sternest away tests they face all season though, as Birmingham made St Andrew's a fortress last year. Taking a point away from there would be positive. Stansfield to continue stunning spree Eyebrows were raised when Jay Stansfield took a step back to join Birmingham for a staggering sum last summer and as expected, he looked a class above in League One. Stansfield led the line for the Blues last term and scored 19 times, as well as assisting on three other occasions, as they eased to the title. The 22-year-old impressively scored 12 times for Birmingham while on loan there when they were relegated from the Championship. He could be a far more complete striker now. Szmodics to rekindle Championship fire Sammie Szmodics' deserved crack at the Premier League did not work out as planned, but he can take the Championship by storm again for Ipswich. The Tractor Boys purchased him last summer from Blackburn, but an ankle injury limited him to just 20 appearances. However, he still managed four goals in that time. Before his move to Suffolk, though, he scored a magnificent 27 goals for Blackburn in the 2023/24 campaign from midfield. He is not afraid to shoot, so could be Ipswich's leading light. BET £10 GET £30 IN FREE BETS WITH TALKSPORT BET Sign Up Offer: Bet £10 and get £30 in free bets - CLAIM HERE T&Cs: 18+ New customers only. Opt in via mobile or app & bet £10+ on any football market at 2. 00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 6x £5 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply, see below. Gamble Aware. org | Please gamble responsibly Odds correct at time of publish and subject to change* 18+ New customers only. Opt in via mobile or app & bet £10+ on any football market at 2. 00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 6x £5 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply, see below. Gamble Aware. org | Please gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www. gamstop. co. uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites. Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talk SPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware. org © 2025 talk SPORT Limited
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