Birmingham, Ipswich Draw 1-1 in Championship Opener

The 2025-26 Championship season began with Birmingham City and Ipswich Town drawing 1-1 at St Andrew's. Jay Stansfield put Birmingham ahead in the 53rd minute, but Ipswich equalized deep into stoppage time with a controversial penalty converted by George Hirst after a handball by Lyndon Dykes. The result extended Birmingham's unbeaten home run to 26 league games and sparked frustration among home fans, leading to objects being thrown onto the pitch. Birmingham manager Chris Davies expressed disappointment over the late penalty, while Ipswich's Kieran McKenna praised his team's resilience. The match sets the stage for a season of high ambition for both clubs, with Birmingham targeting back-to-back promotions under Tom Brady's ownership and Ipswich seeking an immediate Premier League return.