Ipswich Town host West Bromwich Albion at Portman Road in a huge Championship clash.
Victory will see Ipswich climb to second before Southampton and Leeds play in the mid-afternoon kick-offs.
West Brom meanwhile can stay fifth with a win and move to within eight points of Kieran McKenna’s Tractor Boys.
Team News
Cameron Burgess is available for Ipswich following his return from international duty for Australia at the Asian Cup.
Brandon Williams (unspecified), George Hirst (hamstring), Jack Taylor (quad) and Janoi Donacien (adductor) remain absent.
West Brom have no fresh injury concerns to report following their narrow home win over Birmingham City last weekend.
Semi Ajayi, Grady Diangana (both international duty), Jayson Molumby (foot), Matt Phillips (hamstring), Martin Kelly (calf), Adam Reach and Josh Maja (both ankle) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Ipswich entertain West Brom at Portman Road in a 12:30pm GMT kick-off on Saturday 10 February, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Ipswich are winless in their last five league meetings against West Brom (D2, L3).
- West Brom are unbeaten in four of their last five visits to Ipswich (W3, D1, L1).
- Ipswich have scored in each of their last 22 home games against West Brom in all competitions stretching back to September 1981.
- Ipswich are looking to avoid suffering three consecutive defeats in all competitions for the first time since November 2020.
- Brandon Thomas-Asante has been involved in more league goals than any other West Brom player this season, with nine goals and two assists in 27 appearances.
Prediction
With one win in their last eight league matches, Ipswich now know that this is a must-win because they can’t afford for Southampton and Leeds to pull away whilst they’re digging themselves out of this rut – otherwise they will be wise to start play-off preparations in coming weeks.
McKenna’s Tractor Boys however have to be more solid defensively than they were in the first half at Preston, where the damage was done despite a spirited second-half comeback which now must act as a springboard coming into this game.
West Brom meanwhile have won only one of their last five away games so work to do themselves, especially after scraping a clinical home win over Birmingham despite being second-best, but that might stand them well here if Ipswich dominate possession like they can do.
I therefore do expect this game to be a tough scrap but with Ipswich’s defence currently out of form, West Brom must take their chances otherwise they could have to settle for a point.
Prediction: Ipswich 1-1 WBA
Result: Ipswich 2-2 WBA
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