Match Pack: Ipswich Town v Watford
Ipswich Town has been one of the most impressive teams in English football during this season. Kieran McKenna is leading the team towards their second consecutive promotion, which may result in a spot in the Premier League next year.
The team called the Tractor Boys is doing really well in their first season in the Championship since 2018/19. They are currently competing in a very exciting race for the title, which is said to be one of the best in the history of the second tier.
On Easter Monday, Ipswich secured a 3-2 victory against Southampton in a promotion battle with a dramatic goal from Jeremy Sarmiento at the end of the game. This win helped Ipswich climb to the top spot in the Championship league.
The Norwich loss was only their third in the league since December 26th. Ipswich understands that they must win again in order to secure their spot in the top flight for the second year in a row, considering the unpredictable competition for automatic promotion. They aim to become the eleventh team to achieve this feat.
Ipswich Town has emerged victorious in their last three encounters with Watford in the league, whereas they had only managed to win once in their previous 18 fixtures against them (with four draws and 13 losses).
Watford has been performing exceptionally well in their away matches since December, with only two losses, six wins, and four draws. In fact, no other Championship team has had a better record. Watford has not lost a single game against any newly promoted side in their past five matches, winning one and drawing four.
Following their 1-0 loss against Norwich, Ipswich is trying to prevent consecutive defeats in the Football League for the first duration since November 2021 while being managed by Paul Cook.
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This match will see two Watford players, namely Jeremy Ngakia and Ken Sema, being absent due to injury. Nonetheless, Interim Head Coach Tom Cleverley had some good news regarding their physical condition.
He stated that the individuals would resume their training on Thursday after returning from Ipswich.
It's likely that the two of them feel like Saturday is approaching too quickly, but they are expected to be able to participate in the upcoming game against Hull over the weekend.
Ipswich still can't count on George Hirst and Wes Burns for the long term as they're still recuperating.
What's Their Opinion?
Tom Cleverley, who is currently serving as the interim head coach for Watford, recently shared his thoughts on the team's performance. Instead of being critical of the players, he expressed his belief that they have the potential to do well and that their experience on the field will help them to grow as a team. He also emphasized the importance of teamwork and the need for every member of the team to contribute their best efforts. Cleverley's positive outlook and dedication to the team are sure to inspire his players to do their best and work together to achieve success.
I am eagerly anticipating the upcoming match, and so is my team. It's such a thrilling game that we cannot wait to play. Being actively involved in the promotion campaign while making a significant impact on it keeps us driven and focused.
When it comes to Ipswich's playstyle, their main tactic is to beat their opponents by scoring more goals. They have a standout full-back in Leif Davis who contributes a lot to their team's success. Additionally, they have exciting players like Omari Hutchinson and Nathan Broadhead. Recently, they've also acquired Kieffer Moore who has a reputation for being one of the top strikers in the league.
They have many advantages for their future, just like we do. I am expecting there to be some goals.
Kieran McKenna is the manager of Ipswich Town.
This game is quite challenging, there's no argument about it. From my perspective, their squad is quite formidable and I believe that it is one of the toughest squads in the league.
It's quite possible for them to have a higher rank than their current position, yet it's undeniable that their team possesses exceptional individual abilities. Their squad boasts strong experience and physical presence, coupled with top-notch quality and sufficient depth.
We're aware that the upcoming game will not be an easy one, but we're also aware it's taking place at Portman Road on a Wednesday evening. We're familiar with our stadium and the energy our supporters bring to it, as well as what we're capable of accomplishing there.
Achieved Victory: 26 Times; Tied: 17 Instances; Suffered Defeat: 30 Times.
In December 2023, Ipswich Town defeated Watford 2-1 in a Championship match. This was not the first time the two teams had faced each other. In March 2015, Ipswich Town won 1-0 against Watford in another Championship match. In November 2014, Ipswich Town once again emerged victorious, winning 1-0 against Watford. However, in April 2014, Watford managed to defeat Ipswich Town with a score of 3-1 in a Championship match. In December 2013, the two teams played to a draw, with Ipswich Town and Watford each scoring one goal. In February 2013, Watford was able to claim another victory against Ipswich Town, winning 2-0 in a Championship match.
Watford's victory at Portman Road hasn't happened in over 11 years, specifically in February 2013. During the first half of the game, Ikechi Anya scored, giving Watford a lead. Nathaniel Chalobah then secured their triumph with a goal during the second half. After this win, Watford was only three points away from the automatic promotion positions, so this was an important moment in the season.
Fans of Ipswich Town and Watford can watch the game live by using the Hive Live streaming service provided by Watford FC, both domestically and internationally.
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