Ipswich Town have lost just one of their last nine games heading into tonight’s clash with Stoke City
Ipswich Town are back in action this evening, taking on play-off hopefuls Stoke City at Portman Road (7:45pm). Alex Jones previews the action.
The Blues lifted spirits at Portman Road by beating Coventry City 3-0 (Image: Steve Waller)
The transition from November into December was pretty brutal for Ipswich, with a three-game run of night-time away games testing the players both physically and mentally.
They passed the first test by beating Hull City 2-0, but fell at the second hurdle when they lost 2-1 at Oxford United just 72 hours later. A trip to Ewood Park to face Blackburn Rovers followed, where they snatched a 1-1 draw thanks to a goal at the death from Sindre Walle Egeli.
Truthfully, it didn’t even paper over the cracks. The cracks had ripped any lingering shred of paper clean off the wall, despite the fact that Ipswich had suffered just one defeat in eight games. Kieran McKenna acknowledged the poor performance and the reasons for it, as did the players.
What was said privately in the aftermath of that result remains to be seen, but it certainly worked. Ipswich came into their home clash with Championship leaders Coventry City looking confident, standing toe-to-toe with an opponent that many expected to leave Suffolk with three points.
They didn’t have it all their own way, with a bit of luck needed to get over the line. In the end, the scoreline showed a comfortable victory – Ipswich 3-0 Coventry, with Walle Egeli, George Hirst and Ivan Azon all on the scoresheet.
We’ve seen this story before. Ipswich have had false dawns, where we think they are going to finally kickstart their season but end up regressing. The rest of this season won’t be perfect, but if a big win against the title favourites isn’t enough to get you up and running with consistent performances, nothing will be.
Ex-Blue Aaron Cresswell [right] could feature against his former side tonight (Image: PA)
For many, Stoke are seen as one of those perennial Premier League clubs. The Potters spent 10 seasons in the top flight between 2008/09 and 2017/18, even qualifying for the Europa League in 2011 by reaching the FA Cup final.
The likes of Jonathan Walters and Peter Crouch always spring to mind, as does former boss Tony Pulis. Towards the end of their spell at the level, it felt like they had a strong squad, but one that neither Mark Hughes nor Paul Lambert could keep above the dotted line.
When they dropped down to the Championship, they spent big – around £30m – to achieve an immediate return to the Premier League. Gary Rowett was handed that responsibility, but an opening-day thrashing at Elland Road showed how difficult it was going to be.
Rowett started the managerial merry-go-round at the Bet365 Stadium. Five others have tried their hand to get the club promoted since – Nathan Jones, Michael O’Neill, Alex Neil, Steven Schumacher and Narcis Pelach – but all failed.
In their seven Championship campaigns before this one, Stoke have finished no higher than 14th. Their lowest finish came last season, when they ended up in 18th, just two points above the relegation zone.
Now, things are finally starting to look up.
Mark Robins has turned things around at the Bet365 Stadium
Stoke were widely tipped for another average season in 2025/26, but there are signs that it will be different this time around.
Mark Robins’ arrival back in January felt like a huge coup, given the incredible work he did at Coventry in his previous job. It took him half a season to get things going at his new club, but many of his doubters have disappeared.
Derby County, Stoke City and Southampton were all put to the sword at the start of the campaign in a real statement of intent. Even though such form wasn’t sustainable, they still showed real quality to beat the likes of Birmingham City and Wrexham, keeping them around the automatic promotion places heading into November.
A 5-1 demolition of Bristol City kept them there, and it was followed by a 3-0 victory at Oxford. At that point, however, the stats showed that Stoke were overperforming. It felt like a matter of time before the fixtures got tougher and their results worsened.
We’ve seen that in their last five games, where they have won just once – a 3-0 win at home to Charlton. Before that game, they were beaten by Coventry and Leicester. After, it was Hull and Sheffield United. It’s interesting to note that, in four of those matches, they had more possession than the opposition, with Coventry the only exception.
Robins does have a good group at his disposal. Midfielder Tomas Rigo and striker Divin Mubama were both linked with moves to Ipswich over the summer. The latter, on loan from Manchester City, looks a real handful, boasting five goals and one assists.
That’s short of Sorba Thomas’ numbers, however. The Wales international has had a tough few years but is now thriving in a new left-sided role under Robins, with seven goals and five assists to his name. On the opposite flank, Dutchman Million Manhoef – five goals and one assist – is also showing what he’s capable of.
There’s a strong core in midfield and defence, but Viktor Johansson’s role cannot be underestimated.
The Swede is, in my eyes, the best goalkeeper in the division, with the tied-most clean sheets (seven, alongside Coventry’s Carl Rushworth and Bristol City’s Radek Vitek) heading into this round of midweek fixtures. Only Leicester’s Jakub Stolarczyk (4.50) and Derby County’s Jacob Widell Zetterstrom (3.90) have a better goals prevented rate than Johansson (3.50).
Ex-Blue Aaron Cresswell, who joined Stoke on a free transfer from West Ham over the summer, could be given the nod to start after being benched at Bramall Lane.
Possible Stoke XI: 4-2-3-1: Johansson; Tchamadeu, Phillips, Wilmot, Cresswell; Rigo, Seko; Manhoef, Bae, Thomas; Mubama
Ivan Azon could be given the nod to start against the Potters
The message from most Ipswich fans is quite simple going into this game – don’t change the team. In this case, however, it won’t be possible to do so, with striker Hirst suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season in the win against Coventry.
Christian Walton will continue in goal off the back of his stellar display against the Sky Blues, although it wouldn’t be a big surprise to see Alex Palmer back on the bench.
Expect the back line and midfield to remain the same as well. Darnell Furlong and Leif Davis playing either side of centre-backs Dara O’Shea and Cedric Kipre, with Azor Matusiwa and Jack Taylor playing ahead of them.
If he’s fit and ready to play again after 89 minutes on Saturday, Marcelino Nunez is the best option for the no.10 role. I think Jaden Philogene has done enough to start over Jack Clarke on the left, and Walle Egeli seems nailed on for the right flank.
That leaves the no.9 role. With Hirst out, it’s a clear battle between Azon and Chuba Akpom to lead the line. Given that he scored on Saturday, I’d be surprised if Azon wasn’t given the nod. Hopefully he can take his chance and deliver from the start.
Possible Town XI: 4-2-3-1: Walton; Furlong, O’Shea, Kipre, Davis; Matusiwa, Taylor; Walle Egeli, Nunez, Philogene; Azon
Town are unbeaten in their last three games against Stoke (Image: Steve Waller)
I don’t think Ipswich will follow in Sheffield United’s footsteps by battering Stoke, but this does feel like a tough game for them given their current run of form. The trip to Bramall Lane wasn’t a long one, but Suffolk isn’t around the corner, with consecutive away games likely to take a toll.
I do think that the Potters will be low on confidence, whereas Town should be right up for this game after toppling Coventry. I do worry about Stoke’s wide threat, with Thomas and Manhoef looking really lively, while Mubama will likely be a handful for O’Shea and Kipre. With that in mind, I can see the visitors getting on the scoresheet.
But I’m going to predict another win for the Blues, who I think will cause Stoke’s back line some real issues. Ipswich 2-1 Stoke.
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