Birmingham City vs Ipswich Town; Sky Bet Championship
Birmingham City vs Ipswich Town. Sky Bet Championship.
St. Andrew's StadiumAttendance27,508.
Birmingham City 1-1 Ipswich Town: Late George Hirst penalty earns point for Tractor Boys in Championship opener
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham City and Ipswich Town at St Andrew's on Friday night; late George Hirst penalty sees Tractor Boys nick a point on opening night.
Friday 8 August 2025 22:55, UK
Ipswich nicked a scarcely-deserved stoppage-time point as they drew 1-1 at Birmingham on the Championship's opening night.
Two divisions separated the two sides mere months ago, but the playing field was more than levelled at a buoyant St Andrew's in a fiery encounter that boiled over on the pitch more than once.
Jay Stansfield thought he had sealed all three points for the Blues after slamming home early in the second half, but Ipswich levelled from the penalty spot in added time thanks to George Hirst after a Lyndon Dykes handball.
- All you need to know - Streaming Sky Sports with NOW | Get Sky Sports
- Download the Sky Sports App to watch every Sky Sports+ game
Both sides clashed in the aftermath of Hirst's goal, with the melee spilling over towards the crowd. A supporter even appeared to make contact with the players before being bundled to the ground, with Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna saying the incident is likely to be reported.
Early Kyogo effort ruled out for contentious foul
Birmingham started brilliantly and felt they should have been in front after just eight minutes, but Kyogo was penalised for a foul on Jacob Greaves before looping a brilliant effort over Alex Palmer.
Stansfield steers Blues ahead
But it was a decision that didn't matter in the end as Birmingham found the lead.
Kyogo was involved again, as he found himself in the box and dinked one over Palmer and onto the post, with Stansfield quickest to slam the rebound in.
Hirst digs out late point for Ipswich
There was more drama to come. A deathly silence fell around St Andrew's deep in injury time as the referee pointed to the penalty spot following an Ipswich corner.
Replays showed that substitute Dykes had risen and seen the ball hit his raised and outstretched arm. Hirst did the rest, as he stepped up and slotted in coolly from 12 yards to earn Ipswich the draw.
Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna:
"It wasn't a great game, and there wasn't much in it. Whoever played here tonight knew it was going to be difficult. It's still early for this group. We improved after we conceded the goal, and the boys kept going.
"We had good impacts from the bench and late goals will be important in any Championship season so it's good to get the first one. We'll get better if we do the right things."
Davies: Penalty decision harsh
Birmingham boss Chris Davies:
"I was really pleased with how we played. We're very disappointed with the penalty and to concede so late is always a sore one.
"It's really, really harsh. You won't see many like that given this weekend. It's also the context of it being so late in the game, it makes it more painful.
"For the large part of the game we're the better team. There were a lot of positives and we've got to take a lot from that.
"You hope that over the course of the season you get those types of decision back."
McKenna on altercation after Hirst equaliser
Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna on the altercation between a Birmingham fan and his players after Hirst's equaliser:
"It'll be seen and reported and let's see what happens.
"I think there might of been an incident with the crowd and one of the players, that wasn't ideal. In terms of the players on the pitch emotions run high at those moments and it's understandable."
'Referee probably gets it right'
Former Birmingham striker Clinton Morrison on Sky Sports Football:
"You can't raise your hands. We've seen it before. The letter of the law is once you raise your hand like that, I think the referee probably gets it right. But I don't like the rule."
Former Ipswich captain Luke Chambers on Sky Sports Football:
"Dykes goes across and both of his hands go up. His right hand stays up and it's an unnatural position. It's a little bit harsh but his hand shouldn't be there.
"Ipswich will be very pleased they've nicked a point, there. But I don't think they'll be pleased with their performance individually and collectively. There's a lot of work for them to do."
Every Championship match LIVE on Sky Sports+ this weekend!
Saturday August 9
- Southampton vs Wrexham, kick-off 12:30pm - Live on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports+
- Charlton vs Watford, kick-off 12:30pm - Live on Sky Sports+
- Coventry vs Hull, kick-off 12:30pm - Live on Sky Sports+
- Middlesbrough vs Swansea, kick-off 3pm - Live on Sky Sports+
- Norwich vs Millwall, kick-off 3pm - Live on Sky Sports+
- Oxford vs Portsmouth, kick-off 3pm - Live on Sky Sports+
- QPR vs Preston, kick-off 3pm - Live on Sky Sports+
- Stoke vs Derby, kick-off 3pm - Live on Sky Sports+
- West Brom vs Blackburn, kick-off 3pm - Live on Sky Sports+
- Sheffield United vs Bristol City, kick-off 5:30pm - Live on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports+
Sunday August 10
- Leicester vs Sheffield Wednesday, kick-off 4.30pm - Live on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports+
