Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to our live text commentary of Ipswich Town's visit of Birmingham City in the Championship. There's few things better than Friday-night football. There's just, I don't know, something about it which warms the cockles. It's The Cure's favourite day. It's Rebecca Black's favourite day. And it's Ice Cube's favourite day. They can't all be wrong. Anywho, let's not waste any time because team news has already been announced. Stay tuned.

IPSWICH XI: Gerken; Chambers, Smith, Berra, Knudsen; Skuse, Douglas, Toure, Maitland-Niles; Pitman, Sears

BIRMINGHAM XI: Kuszczak; Eardley, Spector, Morrison, Grounds; Gleeson, Kieftenbeld, Cotterill, Shinnie; Gray, Donaldson

IPSWICH SUBS: Bialkowski, Malarczyk, Parr, Coke, Fraser, McGoldrick, Murphy

BIRMINGHAM SUBS: Robinson, Maghoma, Toral, Davis, Caddis, Brock-Madsen, Legzdins

So, there we have it. Click HERE for an in-depth look at team news. In the words of a personal trainer, let's have a look at the form, shall we? Why not.

Ipswich were spanked 5-1 by Reading this day last week, but Mick McCarthy's side recovered well by beating Leeds United 1-0 away to end the hosts' unbeaten start on Tuesday night. Prior to that 5-1, Brighton beat them 3-2 here to end a run of three successive wins. Is their win at Elland Road the start of another hot streak for the fifth-placed Tractor Boys? We shall see.

On to Birmingham now and Gary Rowett's side, who had won three and drawn two of their first five outings, went down 1-0 at home to Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night for their first defeat. That took the wind out of their sails somewhat and they'll want to bounce back this evening. But will they? Again, time will tell.

PREDICTION: Right, we're, like, 13 minutes from kickoff. Prediction? Anyone? I'm on a 1-1 draw. Let's see what Twitter is saying.

Sports Mole's very own Pascal Lemesre is on a 2-1 Ipswich victory.

Gone for 2-1 #itfc. Hopefully a better Friday-night display this week https://t.co/a3BnfYziYI — Pascal Lemesre (@_PascalDL) September 17, 2015

Meanwhile, Mr Wardle can see nothing but another Ipswich response after their obliteration at Reading.

@lukeym20 @KarlBrooks91 sounds about right! I think Ipswich will win tonight. Mick McCarthy will roast them after last weeks performance — Sam Wardle (@SamuelW1991) September 18, 2015

That's the spirit, Sam, but in the interest of being fair, if you want to jump ship and tune into our live coverage of England's opener with Fiji then click HERE! We won't hold a grudge, but you'll be dead to me if you leave. That is all.

Blues Ipswich over England rugby World Cup all day long

— Sam Dayman (@samdayman17) September 18, 2015

I wonder whose idea it was to take this photo.

Beer in the Station pub Ipswich. #KRO #bcfc #bcfcawaydays pic.twitter.com/5X1IUmMGH7

— Paul Duffy (@DuffersKRO) September 18, 2015

He's not wrong, is he? That immaculate-looking surface will play host to hopefully a decent game - and kickoff is in a few minutes! Don't go anywhere.

Portman Road under lights looking as gorgeous as ever 👌 pic.twitter.com/GAtxdIjniI

— Ipswich_Steve (@Ipswich_Steve) September 18, 2015

KICKOFF: And we're off on the beautiful playing surface at Portman Road, my friends. Let's go.

SHOT! Promising start from the hosts as Brett the Pitman Hart takes aim from about 25 yards, but his low drive is comfortably saved by Kusczazak. Ipswich on top.

Corner for the hosts now as Demarai Gray blocks Larsen Toure's cross...

CLOSE! This is not far away at all as Tommy Smith leaps highest to head into the side netting. An inch or two to the left and the visiting keeper was in trouble, but he looked to have it covered.

CLOSE! Excellent work from Arsenal younger Maitland-Niles, who passes to the returning Sears inside the box and the fit-again Ipswich man only has a split second to get his shot away and it's just wide. Very decent start from the Tractor Boys.

Brum haven't had a sniff inside this first 10 minutes. It's been all Ipswich but nothing to show for their dominance so far. Seriously - I'm not even sure if Birmingham have enjoyed more than five passes in the opposition half.

BOOKING: This isn't ideal for City as David Cotterill goes into the book after just 11 minutes for a foul on the jet-heeled Toure, who reached a 50-50 ball before the Birmingham man and, well, you can guess the rest.

CHANCE! Ipswich have dominated the first 14 minutes, but Birmingham have the best and only clear-cut chance, as Shinnie threads a ball through for Jonathan Grounds who, at an angle, is denied by Dean Gerken. Good save and a good spell this by the visitors.

SHOT! Cotterill must have more hair than sense - and he's completely bald. The Birmingham man has two players in promising positions, but he goes for goal, from about 25 yards, and it whistles well wide of Gerken's far post.

SHOT! Tow have been quiet in recent minutes, but Toure, who's been decent so far, fires well over the bar from range.

We gave Cotterill a bit of stick earlier but this is a super finish. It's a slip from Berra which allows Shinnie to capitalise, and the Birmingham plays a superbly-weighted ball for Cotterill on the right-hand side, and he makes no mistake with a crisp near-post finish.

Ipswich look for a swift response but there's nothing doing. Birmingham look very comfortable.

Knudsen almost does a Berra - it's not a Gerrard any longer - and slips but he recovers swiftly. The pitch is ringing wet but only the Ipswich players seem to be struggling.

Excellent penalty from Ipswich new boy, but should it have been a penalty? Maitland-Niles embarks on a superb run, showing a number of players a clean pair of heels, but Jonathan Spector brings him down after his cross at the byline was collected by the Birmingham stopper and the visiting players are furious.

SAVE! Well, who knew Cotterill had a Cristiano Ronaldo knuckleball in his locker? His superb dipping free kick is denied by Gerken, who fumbles it, but Ipswich clear.

Maybe Cotterill is Ronaldo, in a white swimming cap. He plays a superb ball through for Donaldson, whose shot is blocked by Berra after a bit of trickery. Ipswich certainly under the kosh in the last few minutes.

So, five minutes left in a rather controversial half - and referee has had a bit of a mare it has to be said. He should've sent off Cotterill for a very high challenge on Traore inside 11 minutes, before awarding Ipswich a very dubious penalty, of which Brett Pitman converted.

Two minutes to play and there's not been much to report in recent minutes. It's all gone a little flat unfortunately. The calm before a second-half storm?

SUB: Robert Eardley goes off with a shoulder injury and he's replaced by Paul Caddis.

So, that's all she wrote in a half that threw up plenty of entertainment via controversy. David Cotterill, who probably should've been sent off after 11 minutes for a high challenge on Larsen Toure, fired the visitors ahead following a Christophe Berra slip on 22 minutes. But the controversy certainly didn't end there, as Ainsley Maitland-Niles's superb run won a very dubious penalty and Brett Pitman made no mistake from 12 yards.

You're probably wondering what's been going on in the rugby - and I can confirm that all 30 players, and both coaching staff, agreed to postpone the game to watch this. Because it's better. We jest. England lead 15-5 as it stands.

KICKOFF: Right, we're back underway. Let's hope in this half we're talking about the football and not the referee. Let's go.

SHOT! Demarai Gray, who's been a little quiet this evening, goes on a mazy run before dragging his right-footed effort past the post. Gerken had it covered.

Ipswich haven't done a whole lot in this game to be fair. Disregarding the penalty, they've done nowhere near enough in the final third and Tomasz Kuszczak is less busy than his opposite number Gerken.

CHANCE! Much, much better from the hosts, who finally threaten. It's good work by Pitman to knock it past Grounds, before the ball falls to Sears, whose effort on the turn is heading in but Paul Caddis is on hand to clear.

If anybody wants a kitten then ask Mick McCarthy - he had a litter of them prior to that opportunity. He clearly wants an improvement and it looks like he'll be getting his wish. Ipswich need to sustain the pressure though. Too often have their promising spells fizzled out.

Maitland-Niles has been one of Ipswich's better players this evening, and his over-the-top ball for Pitman just has a wee bit too much depth on it and it roll out for a goal kick. Ipswich on top.

BOOKING: Grounds goes into the book with a yellow card, which makes Cotterill's booking that bit more of a farce if they're deemed equal.

BOOKING: Another booking as Jonathan Douglas picks up a yellow for a professional foul. Again, if that's a yellow - and it was - then Cotterill's has to be a red.

Ipswich causing problems now. Pitman is ever so close to heading Toure's floated ball, but everybody misses it and Caddis hoofs it away. Still, both defences look rather comfortable. If not for a Christophe Berra slip, and a dodgy penalty, then it'd still be 0-0. Simple as.

Excellent defending from Tommy Smith, as Donaldson brings a dropping ball under control as he looks to turn and shoot inside the six-yard box, but the big Ipswich defender snuffs out the striker, who has been quiet this evening.

David Cotterill has also been quiet in this half, but he whips a brilliant ball across the six-yard box but nobody was on hand to tap home.

SUB: Pitman, who fired Ipswich level from the penalty spot, is now replaced by big Daryl Murphy.

Birmingham slowly but surely growing on top now and this is the second time they've breached the Ipswich defence, but Gray is held up well by Smith and Berra and the chance is gone.

CHANCE! This is a chance for Chambers as he fires wide from a corner; a very difficult chance, but certainly a chance. He wasn't sure if the corner would reach him and just stuck a leg out incase.

SUB: McGoldrick now partners Murphy up top after the Republic of Ireland striker replaces Larsen Toure, who is applauded off but he went quiet a long time ago and wasn't really an influence anymore.

CHANCE! Oh my word this is the best chance of the game. Bar none. McGoldrick nods it down for Maitland-Niles, who shanks well, well, well wide on the volley from a brilliant position. Should be 2-1. Simple as.

Full marks for Dean Gerken who wins a 50-50 with Maghoma on the edge of the box - and he had to. Moments later, Clayton Donaldson goes to ground under a shove from Smith. No penalty.

It's gone a little scrappy now. A lot more misplaced passes than before and you wonder whether or not there's a goal in this last 12 minutes. Personally, I don't see it.

CHANCE! Oh no it could, and certainly should, be 2-1 to Ipswich. Grounds has to clear for a corner following Muprhy's superb ball. The corner comes in and the Irishman heads a free header over the bar. Poor miss.

SUB: Looks like Birmingham are happy with a point as Paul Robinson replaces Grey. I must say, both teams' heavy-hitters have been so quiet tonight. The defenders have certainly done their jobs. Five to play.

CLOSE! Not far away at all from Gleeson. Cotterill shapes to take a shot from a free kick, but he pulls back for the midfielder, who curls just wide. In truth, Gerken might've had it covered.

Incidentally, we punted for 1-1 in our pre-match prediction. I got it the Ajax - Celtic right yesterday too.

CLOSE! McGoldrick, who hasn't done a whole lot since coming on, is nearly the hero as he fires just wide of Kuszcak's goal. Angle was against him, but a fine effort.

FIVE MINUTES ADDED ON: Birmingham really under the kosh as the Polish keeper beats away Skuse's corner.

SHOT! Ryan Fraser drills a left-footed effort at Tomasz Kusczak. Moments later, Knudsen fires a brilliant ball across the face of goal but no blue shirt could connect. Ipswich pressing.

And that's it! Decent second half but, despite plenty of huffing and puffing, neither side could find a second goal. Both defences were excellent it has to be said, with neither goalkeeper doing much in either half. Brett Pitman cancelled out David Cotterill's earlier opener and that's the story, right? Wrong. Cotterill also should've been sent off, probably, and the penalty which led to the hosts' equaliser was a little soft it has to be said. Anywho, that's game. Thanks for joining us and I'm sure we'll see you for a whole host of Premier League and rugby action tomorrow? Until then...