Following the third international break of the season, Ipswich Town now face 10 games in 38 days. Stuart Watson makes some predictions for a crunch period.
WEST BROM
When: Saturday (5.30pm)
Where: Hawthorns
The Baggies find themselves just outside of the play-off places under meticulous manager Carlos Corberan.
Goalkeeper Alex Palmer, who has kept the most clean sheets in the division (7), felt his team played ‘unbelievably well’ in a 2-1 defeat at Southampton just prior to the international break. That result ended a run of three straight wins.
Direct-running wide man Grady Diangana has hit form recently, while six-goal midfield man John Swift could be back in action this weekend.
Stu’s prediction: This is an experienced side who have only lost two of their last 23 home games. I’d definitely take a draw. 1-1.
MILLWALL
When: Weds, Nov 29 (8pm)
Where: Portman Road
Long-serving boss Gary Rowett – who delivered Championship finishes of eighth, 11th, ninth and eighth with an industrious brand of football – was sacked last month with the team 15th in the table.
He’s been replaced by Joe Edwards, the 37-year-old career coach who has previously worked at Chelsea, Everton and, most recently, been in charge of England U20s.
His plan is to add a bit more on-the-ball quality to the Lions’ out of possession work rate. There were certainly signs of that in a 4-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday prior to the recent international break.
Stu’s prediction: I have to back Ipswich at home, under the lights, against a side in transition. 3-0.
COVENTRY CITY
When: Sat, Dec 2 (3pm)
Where: Portman Road
Coventry have regressed since losing last season’s Play-Off Final to Luton.
The Sky Blues lost several key men over the summer – including 22-goal striker Viktor Gyokeres and main midfield man Gus Hamer – and are in danger of being dragged into a relegation scrap.
Mark Robins was pleased to see his side 'stop the rot' of four straight defeats with a 0-0 home draw against Stoke prior to the international break.
Stu’s prediction: Another game that Ipswich will be strong favourites for on home soil. I’ll say 3-1 this time.
MIDDLESBROUGH
When: Sat, Dec 9 (3pm)
Where: Riverside Stadium
Kieran McKenna goes head-to-head with his good friend and former Manchester United colleague Michael Carrick. That should make for an intriguing tactical battle.
There was a big squad turnover at Boro after they lost in the play-off semis and a poor start to this season followed. McKenna suggested the Teeside club were playing better than results suggested though and so it has proved. Eight wins from the last 11 games has lifted them up to 10th in the table and set up a Carabao Cup quarter-final with Port Vale.
Stu’s prediction: Boro have a good mix of experience and youth, plus a manager now a year into the job. The fact they beat Leicester at the Riverside last time out tells you how tough this game is. Should be an entertaining watch. Again, I’d take a draw. 2-2.
WATFORD
When: Tues, Dec 12 (7.45pm)
Where: Vicarage Road
Ipswich haven’t enjoyed playing against teams that have deployed an in-your-face, intense, high press this season. Valérien Ismaël is a manager renowned for that style.
The Hornets thrashed Rotherham 5-0 last time out to make it six games unbeaten. They’ve only lost four of their last 20 matches at Vicarage Road.
Will their next four games – Leicester, Norwich, Hull and Southampton – boost or drain morale before Ipswich arrive in Hertfordshire? We’ll see.
Stu’s prediction: Not the sort of game that’s ideal off the back of a long trip back from the North East. I toyed with predicting defeat, but plumped for a gritty 0-0.
NORWICH CITY
When: Sat, Dec 16 (12.30pm)
Where: Portman Road
You know the narrative. The first East Anglian derby in almost five years, a decade of hurt before that (D5 L7), but now, it seems, the tables are turning.
The Canaries look in a world of pain. Eight defeats from 12 has seen them slip to 16th (already 19 points behind Ipswich), sporting director Stuart Webber recently stepped down, while manager David Wagner is under growing pressure.
This has to be Town’s time to claim bragging rights? Doesn’t it...
Stu’s prediction: 'Form goes out the window in the derby’. ‘What if they’ve got themselves in order by the time this game comes around?’ I’ve thought both those things. But then I remind myself that Town have the perfect manager to get his team playing the game and not the occasion. I’m going 4-2.
LEEDS UNITED
When: Sat, Dec 23 (12.30pm)
Where: Elland Road
How much will that Norwich game take out of the players physically and mentally?
A week later, just two days before Christmas, the Blues head to Yorkshire to take on – as it stands – one of their major rivals in an automatic promotion race.
Newly-relegated Leeds are, of course, the only team Town have lost to in the league this season, a mad 15-minute spell in the first half proving costly in a 4-3 defeat at Portman Road.
Daniel Farke’s men have won six of their last seven. They’re the only team in the league with an unbeaten home record (W5 D3 L0).
Stu’s prediction: Ipswich will have travelled 1,200 miles between now and kick-off at Elland Road. Leeds’ three combined journeys over that period works out at just 366 miles. Schedule, quality of opposition and crowd have to be taken into account. With a heavy heart, I’ve got this one down as a rare Ipswich defeat. 2-1 Leeds.
LEICESTER CITY
When: Tues, Dec 26 (7.45pm)
Where: Portman Road
The final part of a mouth-watering trilogy.
As it stands, only goal difference separates Ipswich and Leicester at the top of the table. No teams in Championship history have ever had more points on the board than these two after 16 games.
The 2016 Premier League champions have a squad packed with top-flight and international experience, plus a manager in Enzo Maresca who learnt from the best at Man City.
Recent successive 1-0 defeats – to Leeds and Middlesbrough – show the Foxes are fallible though.
Stu’s prediction: Leicester have won seven out of eight on the road (F11 A4). Ipswich have won seven out of eight at home (F25 A15). This should be a Christmas cracker! A home crowd that’s enjoyed a full day of festivities could make the difference. I’ll say 2-1 Ipswich.
QPR
When: Fri, Dec 29 (7.45pm)
Where: Portman Road
QPR finished just above the drop zone last season and look to be in a relegation scrap once again.
Gareth Ainsworth was sacked last month following six straight defeats. The West London club went with a leftfield replacement in the form of Marti Cifuentes, the Spandiard having previously managed in Norway, Denmark and Sweden.
The R’s gave Town a good test at Loftus Road back in August, Conor Chaplin getting the only goal of the game late on.
Stu’s prediction: Might there be an ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’ feel to this one after the three games previous? Possibly. I still think Town should have enough at home against a team that’s struggled for goals. 2-0 to finish off an outstanding 2023.
STOKE CITY
When: Mon, Jan 1 (3pm)
Where: bet365 Stadium
The 10th game in 38 days. Can Ipswich do it on an almost certainly cold New Year's Day in Stoke?
Town comfortably beat the Potters 2-0 in their first home league game of the season, but there have been signs of late that Alex Neil is beginning to really get a tune out of his new-look squad.
Victories against Sunderland, Leeds and Middlesbrough suggest the Staffordshire side, who have some talented overseas recruits, could be in the top-six mix by the time this fixture comes around.
Stu’s prediction: Another day where Town are probably going to have to show some resolve on the road. 1-1.
OVERALL VERDICT
In my last set of predictions, I got five out six results correct (a last-gasp goal in the re-arranged Rotherham game prevented the full set). I’ll be absolutely delighted if I’m that close again.
I’ve got Ipswich down for five wins, four draws and one defeat from these next 10. That would put them on 58 points after 26 games and still right in the hunt for automatic promotion beyond the halfway point. Let the games begin!
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