Ipswich vs Southampton prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2024-03-31 16:30.
[p]A 1-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers ensured that it was a Good Friday for Ipswich Town, who after all three of their automatic promotion rivals failed to win, sit atop the Championship table with only a handful of matches to go. That’s all the more incredible when you consider that the other two sides they came up from League One with last season currently occupy places in the bottom-five, but Kieran McKenna’s side know it’ll count for nothing if they don’t see it through and clinch back-to-back promotions.[/p]
[p]It’s been over two decades since the Tractor Boys were in the top-flight, but they can take a huge step to getting back there should they beat fellow promotion hopefuls Southampton here. Ipswich will certainly be confident of completing such a feat, having lost just once at Portman Road in the Championship this season (W14, D4), while no team in England’s top four divisions can match their 81 goals scored in league action this term.[/p]
[p]Southampton boss Russell Martin lamented his side’s lack of ruthlessness as they conceded a last-minute equaliser against Middlesbrough on Good Friday. That result left the Saints nine points adrift of the automatic promotion places and with no further room for error as they travel to Portman Road – a ground where they’ve won each of the last three H2Hs. [/p]
[p]In fact, Southampton’s only loss in the last nine H2H meetings came in September’s reverse fixture (W4, D4) so Martin is therefore relishing this clash, insisting that his side can “go toe-to-toe with anyone”. While that certainly rings true with their league games averaging 3.3 total goals, he’ll likely be keen for a bit of defensive solidity in this outing, having seen his side concede 13 times across their last six matches in all competitions.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: While Ipswich like to strike late, Conor Chaplin usually gets the job done early with nine of his last 11 goals arriving before half-time, including the winner against Blackburn on Friday. David Brooks could be in line for a recall to the Southampton starting XI, as he scored and assisted in their last away outing – a 4-3 victory at Birmingham. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Ipswich and Southampton are the Championship’s leading scorers from the 81st minute onwards.[/p]