The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the upcoming EFL Championship clash between Ipswich Town and Sunderland at Portman Road.
Matchday 27 of the 2023/24 EFL Championship season will continue on Saturday, which will bring us ten fixtures. The action on the day will end with Ipswich Town hosting Sunderland at Portman Road.
Ipswich Town would have hoped to be competitive after returning to the EFL Championship last season, and they have bypassed expectations, rising to second on the table. As for Sunderland, the Black Cats have also made their mark. They are sixth in the standings, with promotion not out of the question.
Where to Watch Ipswich Town vs Sunderland
Ipswich Town vs Sunderland will kick off at 5:30 pm GMT at Portman Road on Saturday evening. Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football will telecast the match, with Sky GO streaming it. Readers in India can catch the game on the Fancode App. Meanwhile, ESPN+ will broadcast the fixture in the USA.
Form
Ipswich Town: DLDDDW
Ipswich Town had once been close to Leicester City and in contention to win the Championship title. But they have dropped points at an alarming rate since then, with the gap to the Foxes increasing to ten points. While the Tractor Boys are on a four-match unbeaten run, they have only won their most recent game.
Sunderland: LLWDWL
Sunderland and Ipswich Town have a similar run of form, but the Black Cats have more wins in their last six outings. But they have also lost three games, with one match ending in a draw. Unlike Ipswich, Michael Beale’s side crashed out of the FA Cup after losing the Tyne-Wear Derby against Newcastle United.
Head-to-Head Record
Ipswich Town and Sunderland have previously locked horns 57 times, and they have an even head-to-head record with 24 wins apiece (D9). But the Tractor Boys have won only one of the last seven meetings (D2 L4), although that victory came in the reverse fixture this season at the Stadium of Light. None of these match-ups has seen a victory of more than a two-goal margin.
Key Stats
- Ipswich Town can complete a league double over Sunderland for the first time since the 2017/18 season.
- Sunderland have won one of their last nine away league matches against Ipswich Town (D3 L5), a 1-0 victory in January 2021.
- Ipswich Town have scored just one goal in their last four EFL Championship outings (D3 L1). In that time, only Queens Park Rangers have found the back as many times (1), while only three teams have accumulated a lower xG tally than them (2.4).
- Sunderland are the only team yet to drop a single point from a winning position in the EFL Championship this season, winning all 12 games they have gone ahead in.
- On the other hand, Ipswich Town have won the most points from losing positions in the EFL Championship this season (17).
Prediction and Betting Tips
Ipswich Town might have struggled during the festive season, dropping considerable points in the last few weeks. But the Tractor Boys have an impeccable record at home, dropping points only four times while losing once. On the other hand, Sunderland’s away tally is dreadful, and they have won only four of their 13 games on the road thus far. So, we expect Ipswich Town to win.
Ipswich Town’s recent scoring record is atrocious, and they have not created a high xG either. That is also the case for Sunderland, with the Black Cats finding the back of the net only four times in their last six outings. In addition, six of the most recent eight matches featuring these teams have produced less than 2.5 strikes. So, we expect under 2.5 goals.