Birmingham Birmingham City
0-1
Ipswich Ipswich Town

FT(HT: 0-1)

Campbell (8')

Build-up

Preview

Mick McCarthy off to winning start as Ipswich Town beat Birmingham City

By Pascal Lemesre, Football League Editor | 03 November 2012

DJ Campbell scores the only goal of the game in the eighth minute as Ipswich Town win their first match in 13 in Mick McCarthy's first game in charge at Birmingham City.

Ipswich Town have won for the first time in 13 games in Mick McCarthy's first game in charge at Birmingham City this afternoon.

Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy gives his side the thumbs-up © PA Photos

The visitors were ahead inside the opening 10 minutes when Nathan Redmond conceded possession and Lee Martin freed DJ Campbell, who span in the area before lashing past Jack Butland.

Ipswich continued to frustrate the hosts in the opening 45, with Stephen Henderson twice palming away efforts from Wade Elliott and Marlon King.

Martin almost gave the Tractor Boys a two-goal lead in the 33rd minute when he let fly from range but Butland managed to claw it around the post.

Danny Higginbotham Luke Chambers and Aaron Cresswell celebrate for Ipswich © PA Photos

After the interval it was again Ipswich who were making more of the play and Danny Higginbotham saw his header kept out by Butland before substitute Nikola Zigic nodded a free header just wide up the other end.

Zigic was causing problems and he squandered another clear opening as Birmingham pushed for an equaliser when Henderson denied him from a one-on-one situation.

In the final minutes Birmingham bombarded the Ipswich goal but the Tractor Boys held out by making a number of blocks, with Curtis Davies spooning the best chance over the bar from six yards.

Ipswich remain rockbottom in the Championship but close the gap to safety while Birmingham also stay put in 17th.