The 2025-26 Championship season kicked off in spectacular fashion as Birmingham City and Ipswich Town played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at St Andrew's. Both sides showed attacking intent from the first whistle, delivering exactly the kind of opener fans had hoped for.
First Half Fireworks
The hosts started brightly, with new signing Javier Hernandez causing problems for Ipswich's defence early on. However, it was the visitors who struck first against the run of play in the 23rd minute when Conor Chaplin clinically finished a counter-attack.
Birmingham responded immediately through last season's top scorer Jay Stansfield, who levelled just five minutes later with a powerful header from a perfectly delivered cross.
Second Half Drama
The second half began with Ipswich regaining control, and they were rewarded in the 58th minute when Wes Burns curled in a beautiful effort from the edge of the box. But Birmingham showed their resilience once again, with substitute Koji Miyoshi equalising with 15 minutes remaining after a goalmouth scramble.
Both teams pushed for a winner in an end-to-end finale, but some heroic defending and smart goalkeeping kept the scores level. The match ended with honours even, leaving both managers with positives to take into their next fixtures.
Key Takeaways
- New signings impress: Both teams' summer recruits showed promising early signs
- Entertainment guaranteed: An open, attacking game sets the tone for the season
- Promotion credentials: Early evidence both sides could challenge at the top end
The result leaves Birmingham and Ipswich sharing the points in what promises to be a fiercely competitive Championship campaign. Attention now turns to next weekend's fixtures, where both teams will look to build on this performance.
