Ipswich vs QPR prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-12-28 19:45.
Ipswich Town secured a late point on home soil last time out thanks to a 93rd minute own goal as they held league leaders Leicester City 1-1 at Portman Road. Even so, they still hold a five-point cushion to third place as they continue to make an unlikely push for a first Premier League return since the 2001/02 campaign, although amid a three-match winless league run (D2, L1), cynics may say they’re beginning to falter.
Suffering just three losses during their opening 24 matches of the season (W16, D5), no side have recorded fewer than Ipswich this season, whilst no team has scored more than their 48 goals. A whopping 33 of those have come on home soil which leaves them well placed to add another victory here against lowly QPR and complete a league double, even if the Tractor Boys have won just one of the past six league H2Hs (D1, L4).
It proved to be a far worse festive period for visiting QPR who remained in the relegation spots in the Championship thanks to a lacklustre 2-0 loss away to London rivals Millwall on Boxing Day. Other results also went against them, meaning they now enter this latest matchday five points adrift of safety, as dropping into England’s third tier for the first time since 2003/04 becomes a more realistic possibility week-on-week.
Finding themselves playing away from home again here could suit the capital club though, as they’ve taken a small majority of their points this campaign away from Loftus Road (55%). That said, only the current bottom two, Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham (7), have failed to score away from home more times than QPR this season (6) as their woes continue across the board.
Players to watch: Conor Chaplin has netted eight Championship goals this term, five of which have come as match opening strikes including one in the reverse H2H. QPR will be hoping that Chris Willock can add to his three-goal league tally here as none of his 21 goalscoring Championship appearances for the club have ended in defeat.
Hot stat: Just ten of QPR’s 24 Championship matches this term have seen both teams score – a joint-league low amount.