Ipswich Town have just eight games left before the end of the Championship season. Alex Jones makes some predictions.
BLACKBURN ROVERS
Where: Ewood Park
When: Friday, March 29th (5:30pm, Sky Sports)
Current position: 17th
The free-scoring Blackburn Rovers side of Jon Dahl Tomasson is dead. John Eustace has arrived to improve their defence, which he’s done, but their attacking output has suffered as a result. It certainly hasn’t helped their wealth of attacking talent, including Championship top-scorer Sammie Szmodics.
They’re struggling to win games too. Their last victory - 3-1 at home to Stoke City - came on February 10th. Remarkably, they’ve drawn seven of their eight games in all competitions since then.
Rovers are heading into do-or-die territory. Their form suggests that they’re heading for the latter, but pressure does strange things to people.
Alex’s prediction: This is set up perfectly for a trademark away win - narrow and professional. That being said, Szmodics loves playing against Town, so he’ll be right up for this one. I’ll go 2-1 to the Blues.
SOUTHAMPTON
Where: Portman Road
When: Monday, April 1st (5:30pm, Sky Sports)
Current position: 4th
Now we’re talking - the crunch clash. If Southampton fail to beat Ipswich at Portman Road, it’s tough to see them keeping up in the automatic promotion race. This is a big one.
Omari Hutchinson bagged the winner in the reverse fixture back in September. The Saints lost to Middlesbrough a few days later, and then went on a remarkable unbeaten run that lasted until February 13th.
They’ve had a wobble since then, with defeats to Bristol City, Hull City and Millwall dropping them from second to fourth. Perhaps they’re the dangerous side in this promotion race, however, because nobody expects them to overcome the odds and get back into the top two.
Alex’s prediction: Southampton have scored eight goals in their two games, and Town’s home matches often descend into absolute chaos. With just 11 points dropped at Portman Road, I’ve got to back the Blues to win again. I’ll go 3-2.
NORWICH CITY
Where: Carrow Road
When: Saturday, April 6th (12:30pm, Sky Sports)
Current position: 6th
Derby day. Town haven’t beaten Norwich City since 2009, and they haven’t won at Carrow Road since 2006. If there was ever a time to do it, surely it’d be now?
Perhaps, but the Canaries look much, much stronger than they did in the 2-2 draw at Portman Road back in December. Town really dominated that game, but it just wasn’t their day.
Norwich’s home record has been pretty good recently, having last suffered a defeat at Carrow Road on November 5th (3-1 to Blackburn). In fact, they’ve won 13 of their 23 games since then, drawing five and losing five.
The pressure of a derby can crush even the most confident player, but a game at this point of the season could provide decisive for both teams, with Ipswich going for automatic promotion and Norwich gunning for a top-six spot. They won’t want to face each other in the play-offs.
Alex’s prediction: Heart says a win, head says a draw. If Town can keep Josh Sargent under control, they can certainly win, but there’s so many different factors heading into a game like this. 2-2.
WATFORD
Where: Portman Road
When: Wednesday, April 10th (7:45pm, Sky Sports Red Button)
Current position: 13th
It can sometimes be a bit of a shock to see Watford where they are at the moment, struggling in mid-table with no real hopes of a top six finish. By the time they come to Portman Road, their season will be done.
Tom Cleverley - yes, that one - is in charge on an interim basis at the moment, but it remains to be seen whether he’ll be the one taking charge at Portman Road. Perhaps he’ll be given until the end of the season, or maybe the board will look to someone like Scott Parker or Paul Heckingbottom to come in and assess the squad.
Regardless, it’s hard to know what direction the Hornets are heading in. That could make them a dangerous side, or it could just see their season fizzle out with a string of underwhelming results.
Alex’s prediction: Ipswich love a midweek game under the Portman Road lights. Perhaps this will be a chance to rotate a bit off the back of a heavy run of games, too. I’ll go with a 3-1 win.
MIDDLESBROUGH
Where: Portman Road
When: Saturday, April 13th (3pm)
Current position: 10th
Middlesbrough are heading in a similar way to Watford, sitting seven points off the play-offs. They’re still in with a shout of making it, but those dreams might’ve faded by the time they arrive in Suffolk.
The big difference with Michael Carrick’s side is that they absolutely love playing on the counter. They’ll let Ipswich dominate possession before pressing and pushing up the pitch.
That’s exactly how they beat Chelsea at the Riverside Stadium earlier this season, and they did the same away at Leicester City back in February. Even if they have nothing to play for, they’ll be a real threat.
Alex’s prediction: One of those stressful, open games, maybe with shades of the home match against Bristol City. It won’t look like the reverse fixture, that’s for sure. 3-2 Town.
HULL CITY
Where: MKM Arena
When: Saturday, April 27th (3pm - TBD)
Current position: 7th
The final week of the season starts off with a big game. Unlike their previous opponents, Hull will most likely have something to play for. A top-six finish is within touching distance.
The Tigers were comfortably beaten in the reverse fixture, losing 3-0 at Portman Road, but they might’ve learned their lesson from that game. Being so open against Ipswich is a huge risk.
Liam Rosenior’s side have drawn four games in a row, scoring just four goals in a time. Given how strong their attack is, with the likes of Jaden Philogene and Fabio Carvalho, are we seeing a similar situation to Eustace at Blackburn?
Alex’s prediction: The two-week break before this game could help or hinder, but McKenna will know Hull’s biggest threats and will set out a strong plan to isolate them. If they can execute it, this should be another away win. 0-1.
COVENTRY CITY
Where: CBS Arena
When: Tuesday, April 30th (8pm, Sky Sports)
Current position: 8th
Shades of Barnsley away? Town’s trip to Coventry will now be the penultimate game of the season due to their run in the FA Cup. A semi-final tie against Manchester United may prove to be a distraction during the run-in.
That being said, Mark Robins is an excellent manager and his side gave Ipswich a good game in the reverse fixture. They’ve only lost one league game since February 3rd, and Haji Wright is in excellent form with four goals and an assist in his last four games.
Alex’s prediction: Ipswich’s squad have nerves of steel in big games, but against a Coventry side with everything to gain and little to lose, it feels like a banana skin. I think every team in the promotion race will stumble again at some point - this could be Town’s moment. 2-1 defeat.
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN
Where: Portman Road
When: Saturday, May 4th
Current position: 22nd
The final day. Will the Blues still be in with a shout of a top two finish? I think so.
The focus will be on Portman Road, but fans may have one eye on the clash between Leeds United and Southampton - perhaps even Leicester’s game against Blackburn. Who knows whether it’ll be in Town’s hands?
Huddersfield may need a win to stay up. After all, they’re currently in the relegation zone, and Sheffield Wednesday are in pretty fine form at the moment. The stakes could be pretty high here.
Alex’s prediction: I think the Terriers will have to go for it, and that’ll play perfectly into Ipswich’s hands. An early goal to settle the nerves, and a comfortable 3-0 win to end the season. Will it be enough?
SUMMARY
I’ve got Ipswich ending the season with a run of six wins, one draw and one defeat. That would give them 19 points, taking their total from 81 to 100.
Their final record for the season would be 30 wins, 10 draws and just six defeats, which would be enough to seal automatic promotion in any other Championship campaign. Would it be enough this season? We’ll have to wait and see.
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