A controversial penalty denied Birmingham City a winning return to the Championship as they were held 1-1 by underwhelming promotion favourites Ipswich Town.

The hosts, cheered on by an electric St Andrew's crowd, thought they had taken the lead in the seventh minute when Kyogo Furuhashi outjumped Jacob Greaves and lobbed Town keeper Alex Palmer, but referee Andrew Kitchen adjudged the striker to have fouled the towering defender and blew for a free-kick.

In fact, Kitchen blew for 17 fouls in the opening period, which contributed to the stop-start nature of a much-anticipated opening game of the new Championship season.

With the visitors toiling to prove their promotion credentials, the roof came off St Andrew’s 10 minutes after the break.

Furuhashi again caused problems for Ipswich,

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