Ipswich Town return to Portman Road on Saturday lunchtime looking to bounce back after a nightmare week that saw them lose twice in a row.
Where to watch Ipswich v Leicester on tv
Kick off is at 12.30pm BST, and the match will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football, with streaming available through Sky Go and NOW.
Kieran McKenna’s side were beaten 2-1 at Middlesbrough before suffering a shock 3-0 home defeat to Charlton Athletic in midweek a result that left them 14th in the Championship table after ten games. For a squad as talented as Ipswich’s, it simply hasn’t been good enough, and the pressure is beginning to mount on McKenna to turn things around quickly.
Ipswich’s fall has been surprising given how strong they looked at the start of the campaign, but right now, confidence seems low. They’ve struggled to find the right balance between attack and defence, scoring freely but conceding far too often. Both teams have scored in seven of their ten league matches so far, including four of their last five, and that trend tells its own story.
McKenna has responded to recent results by freshening things up. Christian Walton replaces the injured Alex Palmer in goal, while Azor Matusiwa returns to midfield after suspension. The change between the sticks could be significant — Palmer has been a key figure, and Walton will need to step up immediately. At the back, Jacob Greaves has been out of form but is likely to keep his place, which remains a concern given Ipswich’s recent defensive lapses.
West Brom arrive in East Anglia in far better spirits. Ryan Mason’s side are pushing for a play off place and can strengthen that position with another three points here.
The Baggies have made two changes of their own for this one, with George Campbell replacing Alfie Gilchrist and Charlie Taylor coming in for Callum Styles.
West Brom have been consistent of late and have shown they can cause problems for any side in the division. Four of their last six matches have seen both teams score, and with Ipswich’s defensive issues, they’ll fancy their chances of continuing that trend.
It feels like a dangerous game for Ipswich. They have the quality to dominate, but their fragility at the back is undermining them week after week. West Brom’s organised shape and attacking sharpness could make life difficult for the hosts, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see another open contest with goals at both ends.
If Ipswich are serious about mounting a promotion challenge, this is the kind of fixture they need to win, but right now, I can’t quite trust them to deliver. I think both teams will score, but West Brom might just leave Portman Road with something to show for their efforts.
