Exclusive: Lee Hendrie drops Birmingham City v Ipswich Town score prediction | OneFootball

Lee Hendrie has issued a score prediction for Birmingham City's clash with Ipswich Town on Friday

Lee Hendrie has tipped Birmingham City and Ipswich Town to draw in the opening game of the new Championship season.

The new campaign gets underway at St. Andrew’s on Friday evening, with the newly-promoted side taking on a relegated Premier League club to get this started.

The Blues have earned a lot of attention since gaining promotion given the manner of their promotion from the third tier, with the club even being tipped to fight for a place in the Premier League this year.

Ipswich are also seen as one of the potential contenders for promotion, as they look to earn their place back in the top flight at the first attempt.

Lee Hendrie makes Birmingham v Ipswich score prediction

Hendrie is expecting a tight and cagey game at St. Andrew’s this Friday given that both teams could be fighting for promotion against each other this year.

The Sky Sports pundit is looking forward to seeing how the Midlands outfit stacks up against a former Premier League side, and is predicting a 1-1 draw.

“Big game on Friday, obviously promotion and relegation battle,” Hendrie exclusively told Football League World.

“It should be a tough one, this one, I think Birmingham have done a hell of a lot of business.

“Ipswich have obviously done business, ins and outs and these two are tipped probably for promotion again.

“Can understand why, I just feel that Birmingham might just have the upper hand in this game, will be interesting to see where they’re at compared to how they blew League One away.

“Taking that step up and coming up against one of the league promotion contenders who have just been relegated from the Premier League, it’ll be good to see where they stand at.

“I’ve said first game of the season is always tough to call, I’m going to go with a 1-1 draw with this one.

“I just think it will be a real tight, cagey game, I don’t think there will be stacks of goals in it, so that’s why I’ll go 1-1.”

Ipswich will travel to face Birmingham in an 8pm kick-off on Friday.

Both sides can lay down a real marker for the season with a win on Friday

Ipswich will want to make a statement on Friday by asserting their credentials as a promotion favourite by earning a big win against an on-the-up Birmingham.

Chris Davies’ side will similarly want to prove that they are the real deal after a summer of talk about a possible promotion push.

Ipswich may still be the slight favourites, and a victory seems the likeliest outcome even away from home.

Kieran McKenna has been there and done that when it comes to back-to-back promotions, and he’ll know what is needed from his squad to make sure they make a strong start to the campaign.