PREVIEW: West Brom host Ipswich in crucial EFL Championship tie

PREVIEW: West Brom host Ipswich in crucial EFL Championship tie

Ipswich Town are an arms length from their return to the Premier League but West Bromwich Albion will be looking to spoil the party, with the Baggies needing to earn points urgently after their point deduction – which leaves the Black Country side six points away from the drop zone.

As the season draws to a close there are still four clubs in contention for automatic promotion into the Premier League. Ipswich sit just behind Millwall, who are on 80 points, whilst Middlesborough and Southampton are just four points behind on 76. The Tractor Boys sit in the driver’s seat as they have a game in hand on all three clubs; with that fixture due to be played on Tuesday against fellow promotion rivals Southampton.

Ipswich come into this fixture in fantastic form having lost one fixture in their last twelve, winning seven and drawing four. They do not struggle to find the net when travelling either, scoring in 18 of 21 away matches this season. Town have been impeccable when leading at half time and have not lost a single game when ahead at the break, winning fifteen and drawing two.

However, West Brom will hope to blow the promotion race wide open with a third successive league win. The Baggies are currently nine unbeaten with five draws in that time. Despite the visitors strong scoring record, the Baggies have kept a clean sheet in their last four games and kept six in their last seven, conceding only two in that time.

Despite their form, safety is not guaranteed after the club received a two point deduction due to an alleged breach profit and sustainability PSR rules.

A brilliant run of form of late has seen West Brom move clear of the drop zone. They sit 20th and six points clear of Oxford in 22nd with only two games remaining.

Neither side have any new injury concerns, but Ipswich may be looking ahead to Tuesday nights important fixture away at St Mary’s. Therefore, we could see some rotation ahead of that game; however, all of Ipswich’s remaining fixtures are must-win games if they want to book their place back in the Premier League.

The reverse fixture saw Town pick up a 1-0 win at Portman Road. However, they have not won at the Hawthorns since March 1999. A run they hope to put to an end to in Saturday’s early kick off.