Stoke vs Ipswich Prediction: Tractor Boys can harvest three points

Stoke City face Ipswich Town as the Tractor Boys look to keep up their promotion bid (20:00 GMT, Sky Sports Main Event). Kieran McKenna’s men are unbeaten in four with a game in hand over Middlesbrough in the automatic spot. Win here and they can go within two points of second.

Read on for my Stoke vs Ipswich predictions along with the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Stoke City keeper Gavin Bazunu is nearing a return after suffering a thigh injury just one game into his loan spell. The Republic of Ireland shot-stopper joined on loan from Southampton in January before being sidelined. This game may come too soon, but Bazunu is in contention.

Sam Gallagher and Divin Mubama are also recovering well from injuries, but are doubts for this match.

Stoke’s Welsh international winger Sorba Thomas is suspended.

Ipswich winger Jadon Philogene will continue his lengthy stay on the sidelines. His MCL injury has kept him out for 10 games thus far.

Tractor Boys boss McKenna told reporters that "We might not have as strong availability as we had for the last couple of games”. The former Manchester United coach says there are a number of players who will be assessed on Monday after training.

Football Odds

Stoke vs Ipswich Odds

The hosts are 3/1 to win on home soil. The Tractor Boys can steamroll those plans with a win at 5/6. You can back the draw at 5/2.

George Hirst leads the scorer’s market with 9/2 to score first or 6/4 to net anytime.

Ipswich to win to nil @ 7/4

McKenna’s men have the joint-best defensive record in the second tier at press time, conceding just 35 goals. Three of their last four games have seen them win to nil, while they have 11 clean-sheet victories all season.

Stoke haven’t stopped the opposition from scoring in their last five outings and are the seventh-worst attacking side in the division. All indicators suggest a win for Ipswich and a clean sheet to boot.

Stoke to receive more booking points @ 4/5

They might be duking it out in the lower-mid reaches of the Championship, but in one metric they are in the automatic promotion slot. Unfortunately, the statistic in which the Potters are runners-up is booking points.

Stoke’s total of 74 yellow cards and four reds sees them on 87 points, just behind Hull City’s 90. Ipswich are joint-seventh in the disciplinary table. Their hosts are likely to win the battle of the booking points.

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