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Ipswich come into Monday evening unbeaten in seven league matches, with four wins and three draws in that stretch, and their home form remains a major reason to trust them. They have taken 43 points from their home league games, losing only once all season at Portman Road, so a home win needs little more than their usual standard to land.
Birmingham’s away record is much weaker, with only five wins and three draws from 20 league trips and 12 defeats. They have also lost three of their last four Championship matches, which is a poor platform for a visit to one of the division’s toughest home sides.
There is some tension in the head-to-heads because these meetings have often been tight, with a run of five straight games in this fixture where both teams have scored. Ipswich have still avoided defeat in five against Birmingham, and their recent home results against fellow promotion-level opposition have been stronger than Birmingham’s away returns.
The recent scoring numbers also point towards Ipswich having the edge rather than needing a high-scoring shootout. Ipswich’s last six league matches have brought three wins and three draws, while Birmingham have scored only two goals across their last four Championship games, so the away side may need an unusually efficient performance to take anything.
My prediction is Home Win at 4/7. Ipswich’s home record is 12 wins, seven draws and just one defeat, while Birmingham have lost 12 of their away league matches. Ipswich are also unbeaten in seven league games overall, and Birmingham arrive with three defeats in their last four, which is a poor profile for an away result at Portman Road.
