Ipswich vs West Brom Prediction: Tractor Boys in trouble?

Ipswich Town have had a bit of a nightmare week. A 2-1 defeat at Middlesbrough was followed up with a shock 0-3 home loss to Charlton Athletic, leaving Kieran McKenna’s men 14th in the league after 10 games. 

They are rapidly losing ground on the early pace-setters and will want to get back to winning ways as they face WBA on Saturday (12:30, Sky Sports Main Event). Below you can find my Ipswich vs West Brom predictions featuring team news and more. 

Team News

McKenna is seemingly feeling the heat after a sluggish start to the season. He responded to the Boro loss by making seven changes and the baby was well and truly thrown out of the bath water. George Hirst, Jadon Philogene, record-signing Sindre Walle-Egeli and Sammie Szmodics were all named on the bench, which was slightly odd, and now looks even odder given they lost 3-0.

Alex Palmer was taken off after 20 minutes with a muscle injury and will likely miss this one, meaning Christian Walton will start in goal. But what else will McKenna do? His squad has immense depth in every area, but is that now causing him more issues? Honestly, it’s a bit of a guess right now, but I’d expect to see him revert to a similar XI as the one that faced Boro on Friday night. 

Football Odds

For West Brom, a midweek defeat to Watford will have frustrated manager Ryan Mason, as his side blew a one-goal lead. Isaac Price found the net again and has been the standout for the Baggies this season, but surely Josh Maja is due another start up top ahead of Aune Heggebo - given Maja has started the last two WBA wins. 

Chris Mepham and Nat Phillips should continue their centre-back partnership, with Alex Mowatt likely to be partnered by Ousmane Diakite in the middle of the park. 

Today's Football Fixtures

Ipswich vs West Brom Odds

Ipswich are priced at 4/5 to win this game with West Brom a massive 18/5 to secure an away win. That gives the home team an implied win probability of 55% while over 2.5 goals has been priced up at 10/11. 

BTTS is the same price, with Hirst and Chuba Akpom both 9/2 to find the net first. 

BTTS @ 10/11 

I just can’t trust Ipswich right now, especially at the odds-on price they find themselves against the Baggies. McKenna’s men have the best squad on paper in the league and the amount of money that has been spent on it should mean they are top of the table. There’s a long way to go, but it’s not worked out that way so far. 

The change in goal does weaken them and Jacob Greaves has been in poor form but will probably start again at the back ahead of Cedric Kipre. BTTS has come in during seven of Ipswich’s 10 league games so far including in four of their last five outings. 

Their attack doesn’t need any introduction but their defence has been weak, so WBA will fancy their chances. Four of the last six West Brom games have ended with both teams on the scoresheet, so let’s back it to come in again at Portman Road. 

West Brom to score first @ 13/8

Boing boing? Ipswich have conceded the first goal in three of their last four matches while West Brom have been relatively quick starters by comparison. Mason’s team have scored the opening goal in four of their last five Championship fixtures, so following this pattern leads us to exceptional value. 

Portman Road will be nervous at the off, and WBA could take advantage with the opening goal, although I’m not brave enough to back them to hold onto it given what happened at Watford…

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