Hirst’s late penalty earns Ipswich draw with Birmingham in Championship opener

The last club to secure promotion from League One to the Premier League in successive seasons were ill-prepared for their sudden rise to the summit of English football; it was merely a happy accident of an excellent managerial feat. So it is no surprise that Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich are back in the Championship at the first opportunity.Should Birmingham emulate their opponents from this opening fixture they have no intentions of following the same path. Every bold statement to emerge from the club over this summer makes it abundantly clear that this period in the second tier is expected to be brief. Sights have been set high and, on the basis of this performance against opposition that took points off Chelsea, Tottenham and Aston Villa last season, it is easy to see why. Continue reading...

Comments

Similar News

Aberdeen vs Ipswich LIVE as two transfer recruits handed starts by Thelin with Hirst in for the visitors

Football news

Inside Everton's new dawn: Mass overhaul behind the scenes, David Moyes' demands for his squad, what new owners have brought and how they will convince Jack Grealish to be the star that lights up new stadium

‘It’s a gamble’ – Joe Cole worried about ‘maverick’ Man Utd summer signing

Alexander Isak set to miss opener as Newcastle ‘not in position’ to refuse sale

Chelsea: Enzo Maresca unsure how 'complicated' pre-season will affect squad as injury fears intensify

Manchester City: Rodri 'out until mid-September' after suffering injury setback at Club World Cup

Fans spot Liam Delap's telling reaction and say the same thing after Chelsea striker watched Joao Pedro's goal in win over Bayer Leverkusen

Marc-Andre Ter Stegen is REINSTATED as Barcelona captain just a day after being stripped of the armband - with goalkeeper reaching an agreement with Catalan club over his medical saga

Eddie Howe says there is currently NO chance of Alexander Isak playing in Newcastle's opening game of the Premier League season as Toon boss lifts lid on private talks with wantaway striker amid Liverpool saga

Enzo Maresca reveals new transfer ‘priority’ after Chelsea pre-season victory

The big questions that hang over Liverpool’s forced ‘rebuild’

Chelsea: Young guns firing on all cylinders as Blues make promising start to new campaign

Chelsea: Enzo Maresca 'prioritising' defensive reinforcements with Levi Colwill set to miss months

Alexander Isak: Eddie Howe confirms 'discussions' as striker in exile amid Liverpool interest

Alexander Jensen reveals hug from crying Aberdeen fan taught him what Scottish Cup win really meant

Dundee United hero Zac Sapsford aiming for even bigger European highs than Vienna

Chelsea fans sent wild as new sensation enjoys dream debut: ‘Remember the name’

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola confirms Rodri injury setback and comeback plan

Arne Slot admits Liverpool are title favourites - but takes aim over £300m spending

New Alexander Isak statement issued by Newcastle boss Eddie Howe: 'I can't involve him'

Pep Guardiola casts ominous fear for new Premier League season as Man City boss says outcasts should 'LEAVE' the club in bid to trim down bloated squad

Arne Slot insists Liverpool can cope with being hunted as Reds hope their £250m summer spending spree will help defend Premier League title

Shocking moment football thug tries to FIGHT opposition players during ugly brawl on opening game of the season - before being flatlined by security

A-League club fighting for survival after being stripped of men's and women's licences following FIFA ban

Arne Slot faces a conundrum in making his new pieces fit in Liverpool 2.0 jigsaw while questions over Alexander Isak linger, writes DOMINIC KING - but the loss of Diogo Jota still weighs heavy inside the Anfield camp

Chelsea fans fire warning to the rest of the Premier League following Estevao's 'unbelievable' debut after wonderkid helped Blues to dominant win over Bayer Leverkusen

Aaron Ramsdale proves he's capable of being more than just a back-up, youngster stands out with electric display while there is one thing Eddie Howe is crying out for, writes CRAIG HOPE from Newcastle's 2-2 draw with Espanyol

Chelsea 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen: Estevao stars as Blues make winning start to pre-season

Chelsea player ratings vs Bayer Leverkusen: Estevao upstages Blues teammates on debut

Oliver Antman reveals Rangers pressure warning from Mohamed Diomande that left him under no illusions

Two Liverpool teenagers given upgraded first-team roles this season says Arne Slot

Sir Jim Ratcliffe compares Man Utd to Coca-Cola as he unveils new £50m investment

Arsenal given overwhelming green light over next transfer - 'Icing on the cake'

Alejandro Garnacho transfer latest as agreement reached but Man Utd lay down demand

Johnny Kenny will be major asset for Celtic, insists Brendan Rodgers as Irish striker extends deal until 2029

Wonderkid was well worth the wait, new boy offers glimpse into life without Nicolas Jackson while Mad Marc is team's No 1 scrapper: Things We Learned from Chelsea's 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen

Rangers boss Russell Martin won't let dressing-room 'mole' stop him from naming his line-ups early in future

Nicolas Jackson told to stay at Chelsea despite missing pre-season friendly

Inside the £50m Carrington revamp that could take Man United back to the top

Oliver Glasner confirms no talks over new Crystal Palace contract

Brentford in Dango Ouattara talks as Newcastle reignite Yoane Wissa interest

Nicolas Jackson: Chelsea 'prepared to sell' striker as Premier League rivals register interest

Yoane Wissa left out of Brentford squad for friendly outing as Newcastle eye fresh bid

Nico Raskin slapped with £15m transfer price tag as Russell Martin tells Rangers fans 'we are not finished yet'

Jimmy Thelin sends Aberdeen fans a message over pyro closure threat as he speaks out on SPFL sanction

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner makes CAS verdict admission after squad meeting

Arsenal left facing Eberechi Eze issue if fresh Rodrygo transfer plan fails

Man Utd 'Bomb Squad' member reacts to transfer as Red Devils' team-mate shows support

When Manchester United will unveil Benjamin Sesko and complete £74m transfer

Arne Slot reveals Mo Salah is a surprise reason behind £29m Liverpool transfer

Man Utd could target £53m star and three others in huge saving on Carlos Baleba

THE PREVIEW: Aberdeen shook up Celtic in cup final ... are Jimmy Thelin's men capable of a repeat at Pittodrie?

Sir Alex Ferguson pays touching tribute to the late Kath Phipps during re-opening of Man United's Carrington training complex after £50m revamp - as club unveil a plaque in her honour

Riyad Mahrez makes surprise return to Man City training as Rodri compares former star to new club signing

Birmingham vs Ipswich: Live score, team news and updates as Tom Brady's Blues make Championship return against Tractor Boys

Sky Sports presenter and WAG of Championship manager returns to work after cancer battle and a brain infection which left her in a coma

Horrifying moment top-flight footballer is hit by a FIREWORK in a VERY private area during a game - as extent of his gruesome injury is revealed

Chelsea vs Bayer Leverkusen LIVE: Pre-season friendly latest score and confirmed lineups as Estevao starts

Oliver Glasner reacts to Crystal Palace’s transfer links with £47m Chelsea star

Bayern Munich to move away from its ‘Visit Rwanda’ sponsorship this season after criticism from fans

Is Southampton vs Wrexham on TV? Channel, kick-off time and how to watch Championship clash