Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Championship clash between Ipswich Town and Huddersfield Town, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Ipswich Town play host to Huddersfield Town on Saturday afternoon knowing that a draw will secure promotion to the Premier League.
At a time when the Tractor Boys are on the brink of finishing in second place in the Championship standings, Huddersfield are all but relegated courtesy of their inferior goal difference compared to their rivals.
Match preview
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Having witnessed his side blow a lead against Hull City on three occasions last weekend, Kieran McKenna may have had doubts over how his Ipswich players would handle the same situation versus Coventry City three days later.
Although Haji Wright was able to cancel out Kieffer Moore‘s first-half goal, Cameron Burgess struck at the other end to secure a potentially-monumental goal for the Tractor Boys.
With one game remaining, Ipswich sit three points clear of Leeds United – who possess a better goal difference – and now require a point to end a 22-year absence from the top flight.
The odds of Ipswich getting over the line are in their favour. McKenna’s side have not lost a Championship fixture at Portman Road since the end of August, their solitary defeat in 22 games.
Ipswich have also lost just twice in their last 16 matches in the second tier, and there is every expectation that they will deliver in East Anglia.
As far as Huddersfield are concerned, they are effectively guaranteed to be playing League One football in 2024-25 on the back of the 1-1 draw with Birmingham City.
Had they defeated Blues at the John Smith’s Stadium, Andre Breitenreiter‘s side would have been within a point of 21st position, but they are now required to defeat Ipswich and negotiate a 15-goal swing.
Failure to overcome Birmingham was only part of the issue. The Terriers have prevailed in just one of their most recent 11 matches in the Championship, losing five times.
To their credit, Huddersfield have only lost nine of 22 away encounters in this season’s Championship, yet they have also only won three times, the last of which came on February 24 versus Watford.
Ipswich Town Championship form:
Huddersfield Town Championship form:
Team News
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Wes Burns needed to be withdrawn with a calf issue against Coventry, so Jeremy Sarmiento may be restored to the Ipswich starting lineup.
Although further changes are a possibility, McKenna may be prepared to stick with the players who started the Coventry game, with Conor Chaplin and Kayden Jackson staying on the substitutes’ bench.
Janoi Donacien and Brandon Williams remain on the sidelines for the home side.
Huddersfield boss Brietenreiter will make minimal alterations to his starting lineup as they bid to end the season on a high.
The one alteration could see Sorba Thomas replace Josh Koroma, but the likes of Tom Lees and Jonathan Hogg remain out injured.
Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:
Hladky; Tuanzebe, Edmundson, Burgess, Davis; Morsy, Luongo; Hutchinson, Sarmiento, Broadhead; Moore
Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Nicholls; Pearson, Helik, Spencer; Turton, Matos, Rduoni, Kasumu, Thomas; Healey, Ward
We say: Ipswich Town 3-1 Huddersfield Town
While there is still potential for this to prove to be an extremely nervy afternoon for the Tractor Boys, we expect them to come through with flying colours. A fast start can make all the difference, something that we expect to materialise in what could be a routine win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.