Chris Davies is expected to be sacked by Birmingham City before the international break.

Birmingham City manager Chris Davies has been tipped to lose his job before the first international break of the 2026/27 Championship season, with EFL podcaster Tom Garratt predicting that the Blues hierarchy could make a change if results fail to meet expectations.

Davies began the new campaign with a goalless draw against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. Although Birmingham produced a disciplined defensive performance, the match offered little encouragement in an attacking sense, with clear-cut chances difficult to come by for either side.

Patrick Bamford came closest to finding the breakthrough, but Sheffield United managed only three shots throughout the entire match. Birmingham were defensively solid away from home, yet their lack of attacking threat raised familiar questions about whether they can improve on their poor away record from last season.

With promotion expected to be the objective, the Blues cannot afford another campaign in which their performances away from St Andrew’s hold them back.

Davies already facing pressure

Garratt believes Birmingham have done plenty of good work away from the pitch over the past 12 months and has praised the club’s recruitment and overall direction.

The Birmingham hierarchy have placed the club in a stronger position to compete in the Championship, meaning expectations around Davies are naturally increasing.

The manager still has credit from his first season at St Andrew’s, when he guided Birmingham to a record-breaking League One campaign. However, that goodwill is beginning to disappear.

Birmingham finished last season in their highest league position for a decade, but the campaign was ultimately viewed by some as disappointing given the club’s ambition and resources.

If the Blues fail to mount a serious promotion challenge this time around, Garratt believes owners Tom Wagner and the Birmingham hierarchy may decide that a managerial change is necessary.

International break could be decisive

Speaking on The Pyramid Podcast, Garratt suggested that Birmingham’s struggles away from home could contribute to a mediocre opening period and eventually cost Davies his position.

He believes the club’s senior figures will have less patience than they might have shown previously, particularly because of the expectations surrounding the team.

Garratt went as far as predicting that Davies will not still be in charge when Birmingham travel to West Bromwich Albion in October.

The extended international break provides a natural opportunity for clubs to assess their performances and make managerial changes, and Garratt believes Birmingham could use that period to move in a different direction.

He argued that the Blues have not shown enough quality away from home and suggested supporters are becoming increasingly frustrated that the team’s strong performances at St Andrew’s have not been replicated on the road.

The opening draw at Sheffield United only added to those concerns.

Birmingham face difficult run

Davies has little time to turn things around because Birmingham face an extremely demanding sequence of fixtures before the international break.

The Blues are scheduled to play seven matches against a mixture of ambitious Championship sides and clubs expected to challenge near the top of the table.

Their run begins with a home meeting against Bristol City on August 22.

They then travel to Wrexham on August 28 before returning to St Andrew’s to face Southampton on September 1.

Wolves visit Birmingham on September 6, followed by an away match against Norwich City at Carrow Road on September 9.

The Blues then travel to Derby County on September 12 before facing Middlesbrough at the Riverside on September 19.

It is difficult to imagine a more demanding opening stretch, and the results could tell supporters and the club hierarchy a great deal about Birmingham’s promotion prospects.

Tough opponents provide major test

Several of Birmingham’s opponents finished inside or around the Championship play-off places last season.

Southampton finished fourth, while Wrexham, Norwich City and Derby County all ended the previous campaign in the top half.

Middlesbrough are also expected to challenge strongly, while Wolves are returning to the Championship after relegation from the Premier League.

Bristol City, meanwhile, finished 12th last season and will provide another competitive test.

The difficult schedule gives Davies an opportunity as well as a potential threat.

If Birmingham can collect a strong points total from these fixtures, the manager could quickly rebuild his reputation and demonstrate that the club is capable of challenging for promotion.

However, a poor run could have the opposite effect and leave his position extremely vulnerable.

Home form could be Birmingham’s strength

One encouraging factor for Davies is Birmingham’s impressive home record.

Only three teams managed to leave St Andrew’s with all three points during the previous Championship campaign.

That demonstrates how difficult Birmingham can be to beat in front of their own supporters and suggests that the club already possesses a strong foundation.

Coventry City were defeated at St Andrew’s, while Millwall suffered a heavy 4-0 loss.

Ipswich Town were also fortunate to leave with a point on the opening day.

Those results demonstrate that some of the strongest teams in the division can struggle when visiting Birmingham.

The major question is whether Davies can find a way to translate that home strength into better results on the road.

Away form remains the concern

Birmingham’s away performances are likely to determine Davies’ future.

Only four Championship teams had a worse away record than the Blues last season, and the opening-day draw at Sheffield United did little to suggest that the problem has been solved.

Defensively, Birmingham looked organised and difficult to break down, but their lack of attacking creativity was concerning.

Promotion contenders need to win games away from home, particularly when competing against other sides with similar ambitions.

If Birmingham continue drawing or losing too many away fixtures, they could quickly fall behind the promotion contenders.

That would increase pressure on Davies and potentially strengthen the argument for a managerial change.

Davies can still change the narrative

Despite the speculation, Davies has a clear opportunity to prove his critics wrong.

A strong run over the next seven matches would dramatically improve his position and could restore the confidence that surrounded him earlier in his Birmingham tenure.

Beating some of the teams expected to challenge for promotion would provide particularly strong evidence that the Blues are capable of competing at the top end of the table.

The manager therefore has an opportunity to turn a difficult fixture list into a statement of intent.

If Birmingham can collect significant points against Southampton, Wolves, Norwich, Derby and Middlesbrough while also taking care of their home matches, the conversation surrounding Davies could change quickly.

Instead of discussing his potential dismissal, supporters could once again view him as the manager capable of taking the club back to the Premier League.

The pressure is already building

For now, however, Davies remains under scrutiny.

Birmingham’s ambition means that simply achieving a respectable league position may no longer be enough.

The club finished in its highest position for a decade last season, yet that achievement was regarded by many as underwhelming because of the expectations surrounding the team.

The opening-day draw at Sheffield United has not eased those concerns.

The next month could therefore prove decisive.

A strong run would strengthen Davies’ position and give Birmingham genuine promotion momentum, while a poor sequence could force the club into an early managerial decision.

With seven challenging fixtures ahead, Davies knows exactly what is at stake.

The results Birmingham collect before the international break could ultimately determine whether he remains at St Andrew’s or becomes one of the first Championship managers to lose his job this season.