![\"Birmingham](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_GettyImages-2163519836.jpg\")
Chris Davies(Image: Dan Istitene)<\/p>\nBirmingham boss Chris Davies understands how difficult it is to win back to back promotions and Championship opener against Ipswich will go a long way to showing where newly-promoted side stand<\/p>\n
07:00, 08 Aug 2025Updated 07:06, 08 Aug 2025<\/p>\n
Chris Davies(Image: Dan Istitene)<\/p>\n
Chris Davies\u2019 idea of fun was to spend some of his brief summer downtime going through the past 100 teams to win promotion from the third tier. That he noticed only five had achieved a consecutive elevation to the promised land made it clear that Birmingham City face a daunting task irrespective of their momentum.<\/p>\n
Excitement is sky high at St Andrew\u2019s ahead of tonight\u2019s return to the Championship and this is a club justifiably feeling good about itself after romping to the League One title with a record 111 points.<\/p>\n
Backed by an ownership group that are meeting big promises with action, Davies\u2019 squad has improved and should get stronger again before the transfer deadline on September 1. It comes as they look to make a splash in what might be the most unpredictable Championship of all time.<\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE: Championship 1-24 predictions: Promotion race decided as Ipswich and Wrexham discover fate<\/a>READ MORE: Tom Brady issues urgent Birmingham City demand as Wrexham set to surpass them<\/a><\/p>\n But the manager who, for now, has a win percentage better than Pep Guardiola<\/a> knows it is a tall order irrespective of the grand ambitions and investment.<\/p>\n Chairman Tom Wagner and his Knighthead Capital made it clear that it is a case of \u201cwhen, not if\u201d Birmingham reach the Premier League<\/a> for the first time since 2010-11. Davies, every bit the modern manager, says he can handle the pressure by \u201cfocusing on process rather the outcome\u201d but he is simultaneously happy to embrace the expectation.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t disagree with Tom at all that under Knighthead\u2019s ownership this club will arrive in the Premier League, absolutely,\u201d he says. \u201cThis ambition is there to inspire us, to give us something to really aim for.<\/p>\n \u201cBut we know how hard and how unforgiving the Championship can be. We know it\u2019s a demanding, relentless league.\u201d<\/p>\n Facing Ipswich, the favourites for promotion and the most recent side to go from League One to the Premier League, first up will provide an instant guide.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a measure for us,\u201d Davies adds. \u201cThose first weeks are really important to identify the key things we need to be successful. We\u2019ll learn a lot in the first few weeks.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no bigger test opposition wise for us in the first game but we are at home. We didn’t lose at home in the league last season.\u201d<\/p>\n While they dominated possession throughout their record-breaking campaign \u2013 an average of 67.15 per cent that only Manchester City<\/a> have bettered across the top four tiers in the past dozen years \u2013 Davies knows that they will face fewer teams willing to sit back this season.<\/p>\n That has meant diversifying the squad. Demarai Gray\u2019s return home is the most striking addition but most important of all is Davies has been given depth so he can select different teams for different rivals. And against Kieran McKenna\u2019s side they will meet another as eager to dominate possession and territory.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was part of the recruitment strategy. You need different solutions,\u201d he adds. \u201cLast season we were quite fluid towards the end but if you\u2019re having less possession you then have to think about counterattacking, pace, speed. We\u2019ve added that.<\/p>\n “The level of dominance we had will naturally decrease. But we\u2019ve been working on how we handle that.\u201d<\/p>\n Join our new WhatsApp community<\/a> and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package<\/p>\n This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/a> \u00a343<\/p>\n \u00a335<\/p>\n Sky<\/p>\n![\"Chris](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_Charlton-Athletic-v-Birmingham-City-EFL-Sky-Bet-League-One-Football-The-Valley-London-UK-05-Oc.jpg\")
Chris Davies, manager of Birmingham City, applauds the club’s fans.(Image: Simon Dael\/REX\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n![\"Content](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1744106962_61_0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\")
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