Ipswich Town can secure a grip on second spot should they beat Coventry City on Tuesday night.
Ipswich Town can take a giant step towards securing automatic promotion to the Premier League should they beat FA Cup semi-finalists Coventry City in their EFL Championship fixture on Tuesday night.
Kieran McKenna’s men look set to secure back-to-back promotions, a rare achievement in the modern game. Currently third, the Tractor Boys can leapfrog Leeds United to the coveted second spot if they avoid defeat at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
However, Ipswich Town will then still need to match Leeds United’s result on the final matchday to ensure their promotion. Anything less than three points on the night will be yet another opportunity missed by McKenna and Co.
Coventry City faced a tough battle against relegation-threatened Blackburn Rovers in their fourth game in just ten days, capping off a hectic 2023-24 campaign. Despite a lacklustre first period and Liam Kitching’s third red card of the season — a club record — Coventry managed to hold Rovers at bay with ten men, securing a hard-fought draw.
Heading into the final two matches of the season, Coventry currently sit in ninth place in the Championship, eight points behind sixth-placed West Bromwich Albion. The Sky Blues’ defence has been a concern this season. But they managed to collect their eighth clean sheet against Blackburn, showing signs of improvement.
Their upcoming matches at the Coventry Building Society Arena will mark the end of a thrilling season for Mark Robins’s side. Despite some inconsistencies, Coventry have performed well at home, losing just four times in 21 Championship contests.
Meanwhile, Ipswich Town extended their winless run in the EFL Championship to four matches after a thrilling 3-3 draw with Hull City. Despite taking the lead three times, they were unable to secure all three points, with Hull’s late equaliser denying them victory.
However, Kieran McKenna’s men still control their destiny in the promotion race, needing just four points from their remaining matches against Coventry and Huddersfield Town to secure a top-two finish.
Breaching the 90-point mark will be cold comfort for them unless they manage to ensure qualification for the Premier League at the end of the season. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up for the game and their tactics.
Team News & Tactics
Coventry City
Coventry City face a defensive dilemma ahead of Tuesday night’s clash, with only two available centre-backs due to Liam Kitching’s suspension and Luis Binks’s Achilles injury. Bobby Thomas and Joel Latibeaudiere are now sure starters on the night.
In addition to their defensive woes, Coventry will also be without winger Fabio Tavares, who sustained a season-ending ankle injury in the FA Cup semi-final loss to Manchester United. Victor Torp and Ben Sheaf were also sidelined for the match against Blackburn Rovers due to stomach and muscle injuries, respectively. The duo is unlikely to return to action on Tuesday.
A 4-5-1 formation appears to be the way forward, with numbers in the middle of the park aiming to make a difference. Bradley Collins should start in goal behind the back four of Milan van Ewijk, Bobby Thomas, Joel Latibeaudiere and Jake Bidwell.
Liam Kelly and Josh Eccles should provide the double pivot in the middle of the park, freeing up Kasey Palmer to push forward. Callum O’Hare and Haji Wright should provide the width with Ellis Simms leading the attack.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Collins; Van Ewijk, Thomas, Latibeaudiere, Bidwell; O’Hare, Kelly, Eccles, Wright, Palmer; Simms
Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town will be glad to see the return of George Hirst, who found the net against Hull City. Hirst’s goal could see him retain his place in the starting lineup, ahead of Kieffer Moore.
Wes Burns also made a comeback from a hamstring injury, providing an assist for Ipswich Town’s opening goal against Hull. His return gives McKenna more options going forward. Brandon Williams, however, is still ruled out.
Kieran McKenna is likely to continue with his trademark 4-2-3-1 formation, with Vaclav Hladky in goal. He should be protected by the back four of Axel Tuanzebe, Luke Woolfenden, Cameron Burgess, and Leif Davis.
Sam Morsy and Massimo Luongo should form the double pivot, with Omari Hutchinson and Wes Burns providing the width. The impressive Conor Chaplin should be deployed as the number 10, while George Hirst should retain his spot in the playing XI.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Hladky; Tuanzebe, Woolfenden, Burgess, Davis; Morsy, Luongo; Burns, Chaplin, Hutchinson; Hirst
Key Stats
- A win on the night will see Ipswich Town win 27 EFL Championship games this season, a record tally for a side that just gained promotion to the second tier.
- Coventry City last defeated Ipswich Town at home in the league in 2009/10. They have failed to win the three clashes at the venue since.
- A loss on the night will see the Sky Blues lose consecutive home games in the league for the first time since the 2021-22 season.
- Since the start of April, only five other Championship sides have picked up fewer points than Ipswich Town in the league.
Player to Watch
Omari Hutchinson
The Chelsea loanee has impressed for Ipswich this season and found the back of the net twice in the 3-3 draw to Hull City last time around. Only Norwich City’s Jonathan Rowe has outscored Hutchinson in the EFL Championship this season at least as far as Under 21 players are concerned.
The Ipswich man appears to have the golden touch at the moment and will hope to once again rise to the challenge on Tuesday. The Tractor Boys have struggled for goals of late, and the return of George Hirst combined with Hutchinson’s resurgence will give McKenna much hope.
Prediction
Coventry City 2-2 Ipswich Town
While George Hirst’s return is a welcome boost for the visitors, their defensive lapses show no sign of slowing down. Despite not having anything but pride to play for, Coventry City are unlikely to roll over. Ipswich Town can taste history in the making, and the onus will be on them to take the game to their opponents. The Hard Tackle predicts an entertaining 2-2 draw on the night.
