Two sides that struggled in the league last year, Ipswich play host to Birmingham on the opening weekend of the season, with both sides keen to get off to a good start following disappointing campaigns last time out.

The Tractor Boys were very inconsistent last season, and the loss of top scorer Tom Lawrence at the end of his loan spell will be a huge blow to Mick McCarthy’s side this summer.

The former Ireland manager has moved to replace the advanced midfielder with the signings of Tom Adeyemi and Emyr Huws, and Joe Garner has been brought in from Rangers to bolster a front line that struggled for goals last time out.

Garner was prolific in English football with Preston before heading north of the border, and McCarthy will hope the 29 year old will rediscover that form in Suffolk.

Birmingham are a club on the up having survived the drop last season, and boss Harry Redknapp will use his first summer window in charge of the club to put together a side capable of comfortably competing in the division.

Redknapp moved early to resolve his goalkeeping situation, and secured the signing of the promotion winning Brighton number one David Stockdale on a free transfer; a real coup for the Blues.

Craig Gardner has been signed on a permanent basis, and commanding Barnsley centre half Marc Roberts has also linked up with the St Andrews side.

Redknapp’s pursuit of John Terry was well documented, but now the former Chelsea captain has signed for Aston Villa, Redknapp has claimed he can now sign five or six players with the money saved.

Both clubs will make further additions in the coming weeks, and the business done by both bosses has been solid enough thus far.

At this stage of the summer, both of the sides in blue look quite matched, and if the game were to be played tomorrow, it would be hard to separate the two sides.

Redknapp will make many more signings before kick off rolls around, and if these new additions add quality and depth, then Birmingham may just edge the match up.

Ipswich need another striker to add further goals, otherwise McCarthy’s men will struggle again next season.