Ipswich vs Southampton Prediction: Spoils to be shared by ex-PL pair

Two sides relegated from last season's Premier League meet at Portman Road on Sunday, when Ipswich Town take on Southampton (12:00 BST, Sky Sports Main Event) in the second round of Championship fixtures.

Below are my Ipswich vs Southampton predictions, complete with all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Ipswich defender Conor Townsend is expected to miss the entire season after suffering a cruciate ligament tear, while Jaden Philogene is doubtful.

Football Odds

Nathan Broadhead recently completed his move to Wrexham, Arijanet Muric has also departed on a season-long loan to Sassuolo, and Omari Hutchinson is on the verge of joining Nottingham Forest.

Southampton ace Tyler Dibling has been linked with a move away this summer, but after not being involved in the first two games, he could play a part after he returned to training.

Today's Football Fixtures

Charlie Taylor and Taylor Harwood-Bellis are also in contention after getting minutes in the EFL Cup win in midweek, but Will Smallbone and James Bree are out.

Welington and Joshua Quarshie were left out of the cup victory and are expected to be recalled by Saints boss Will Still.

Ipswich vs Southampton Odds

Ipswich have been installed as the 11/10 favourites to pick up the win on home soil, with the draw priced at 12/5 and Southampton 13/5, or a 27.8% chance, to take three points back to the South Coast.

Draw @ 5/2

With both teams suffering relegation last season, the pressure is on to secure an instant return to the Premier League, and the early signs suggest neither Ipswich nor Southampton are firing on all cylinders.

The Tractor Boys needed a late equaliser to draw at Birmingham on the opening weekend before they were then knocked out of the EFL Cup on penalties in midweek by Bromley, having been at 1-1 after 90 minutes.

Southampton may have two wins in the bag, but they needed two late strikes to overcome Wrexham at St Mary's, and they just edged past Northampton 1-0 in the EFL Cup, so the performances haven't been at a high level.

Last season's meeting on the South Coast ended in a 1-1 draw before Ipswich recorded a 2-1 victory at Portman Road, evidence of how closely matched the pair were in the 2024/25 campaign.

With Ipswich losing Broadhead and on the verge of seeing Hutchinson depart, they have lost two key attacking players, and they may have to settle for a share of the spoils against a Saints side still finding their way under Still.

Ronnie Edwards to be booked @ 4/1

After spending the second half of last season on loan at QPR, Englishman Ronnie Edwards has earned his way into Southampton's first team, and he has played both matches this term.

It hasn't been the most convincing of starts for the 22-year-old, who gave away the penalty in the league opener against Wrexham, but somehow managed to avoid a card of any colour for the challenge.

Edwards wasn't so lucky in the EFL Cup, as he was shown a yellow, and the fact that he has committed two fouls in both matches so far suggests he likes to get stuck in.

Offers

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