IPSWICH TOWN v BIRMINGHAM CITY
Saturday 5th August 2017 – Kickoff: 1500hrs
Football – England – Championship Betting Tips
One of the managers in the Championship who will be under pressure to deliver some early results is likely to be Mick McCarthy of Ipswich Town as his side produced a disappointing campaign last term – and the natives are starting to get restless.
Three seasons ago, Ipswich made the play-offs, they then finished 7th place the next season, while last term saw them finish in an extremely poor 16th place, and they appear to be going nowhere fast. To put this into perspective, Birmingham, who narrowly avoided relegation on the last day last season, ended up just two points adrift of Ipswich.
McCarthy has signed striker Joe Garner from Rangers and bolstered his midfield by adding Adeyemi from Cardiff City and forward line with Manchester City’s Selina joining on loan. The Tractor Boys still seem to be missing that spearhead up front though, as they drew way too many games last season.
Birmingham City were on the brink of relegation down to League One under the disastrous managership of Zola, who inexplicably replaced former manager Gary Rowett at a time when Blues were on the fringes of the play-off pack.
That decision cost Birmingham dearly and almost cost them relegation, but enter Harry “Houdini’ Redknapp, as he saved Birmingham’s Championship status by winning two of the last three games of the season to send the Blues fans into rapture.
Redknapp now has the squad and the changing room on side, and with a couple of new signings already made in the shape of defender Roberts from Barnsley, Craig Garner now a permanent signing from West Brom and midfielder N’Doye from Angers, they look a solid unit. If striker Donaldson can stay fit, they should finish in the top half, with maybe an outside chance of the play-offs.
Pick: Birmingham City AH+0.5 @ 1.61 Bet Victor
