For the second week in a row, Ipswich Town kick off the weekend's Championship action with a Friday-night fixture, this time hosting Birmingham City at Portman Road.

Both sides have started the season well and lie in the top seven after seven rounds of fixtures.

Ipswich

Mick McCarthy will be hoping that his side put in a much better performance this Friday than they did last, when Reading annihilated them 5-1 to inflict back-to-back league defeats on the Tractor Boys.

The international break had seemingly had a negative effect on Ipswich, but they bounced back on Tuesday with a much-improved away display, ending Leeds United's unbeaten start to the season with a gritty 1-0 win at Elland Road.

They are back up to fifth in the table and now return to Portman Road, where they have won six of their last eight league games.

McCarthy might be glad that his side are in action on Friday as it gives them more rest for their next fixture, a glamorous Capital One Cup third-round tie away at Manchester United on Wednesday.

A daunting trip to Old Trafford awaits, but a win in the league here would be a big boost and supporters will have their eye on the top two soon as their following three Championship games come against three of the current bottom five - Bristol City, Blackburn Rovers and Huddersfield Town.

If they are to be a promotion contender this season, they must shore up at the back - only bottom-three sides Bristol City and Rotherham United have conceded more than the Tractor Boys.

Recent Championship form: WWWLLW
Recent form (all competitions): WWWLLW

Birmingham

While Ipswich put an end to their mini-slump in midweek, Birmingham saw their unbeaten start to the season come to an end at the hands of Nottingham Forest.

After putting four past Bristol City at home in their first game back after the international break, Gary Rowett's side were unable to make it back-to-back home wins, managing just one shot on target against a resurgent Forest and missing out on the chance to move into the top three.

Still, it has been a solid start to the season. Just a point separates the Blues from the top six and they have a game in hand on most around them due to their rearranged match with Brentford, which means that they have only played six league games this season.

Like Ipswich, the Blues have a huge League Cup tie fast approaching as they face arch-rivals Aston Villa on Tuesday and they will hope their potent attack - 15 goals in eight games this season - could lead to an upset at Villa Park.

Clayton Donaldson was held scoreless against Forest after netting his first goals of the season with a hat-trick in the win over Bristol City, but it is his hold-up play and linking that has impressed most this term - no other Championship player has as many assists as Donaldson's four.

Recent Championship form: WDDWWL
Recent form (all competitions): DDWWWL

Team News

Ryan Fraser of Ipswich during the Sky Bet Championship match between Ipswich Town and Brighton and Hove Albion at Portman Road stadium on August 29, 2015

The news from McCarthy at Ipswich's pre-match press conference is that on-loan winger Ryan Fraser, who shone at Leeds two days ago and was nominated for the August Player of the Month, is a doubt after coming off with a knock.

Cole Skuse was also forced off at Elland Road, but he has been declared fully fit and could be joined in midfield by either Teddy Bishop and Kevin Bru, both of whom are back in contention after overcoming injuries.

Ipswich top-scorer Freddie Sears was left out of the Leeds win, but he is fully fit and likely to return in attack.

For the visitors, Demarai Gray could earn a recall on the left wing after starting the defeat to Forest on the bench.

Rowett is contemplating making changes elsewhere for the Blues' third game in six days and Andrew Shinnie is one player likely to make his first league start of the season in the number-10 role.

Ipswich possible starting lineup:
Gerken; Chambers, Smith, Berra, Knudsen; Skuse, Bru, Bishop; McGoldrick; Sears, Murphy

Birmingham possible starting lineup:
Kuszczak; Caddis, Morrison, Spector, Grounds; Gleeson, Kieftenbeld; Cotterill, Shinnie, Gray; Donaldson

Head To Head

Ipswich are unbeaten in their last seven league meetings with Birmingham, winning four. One of those victories was when the two last met, also at Portman Road, with the hosts coming out on top 4-2 in February.

In fact, Ipswich have won their last three at home against Birmingham, whose last victory in Suffolk in December 2008 was part of their promotion-winning campaign.

Video Preview

Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:

We say: Ipswich 2-1 Birmingham

Ipswich have lost at home just three times in 2015 and although one of those was last time out against Brighton, they seem to have overcome their recent blip and could extend their unbeaten run against Birmingham to eight games.