Ipswich vs Wolves Prediction: Tractor Boys backed to close the gap

Ipswich Town gave their survival hopes a shot in the arm in midweek as they beat Bournemouth away from home, and now they have the chance to gain ground on the only other side in danger - Wolves. Portman Road hosts this crunch clash at the bottom (15:00, Saturday) as Ipswich look to close the nine point gap between them and Vitor Pereira’s outfit.

Below you can find my Ipswich vs Wolves predictions featuring team news and betting tips. 

Football Odds

Team News

After a rare win, Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna may choose to stick rather than twist. Having scored with their only two shots on target, both Liam Delap and Nathan Broadhead will hope to strike once more, while Julio Enciso should also start again as part of the attack. 

Leif Davis was the big absentee on the South Coast but his absence may have provided more solidity, and I’d expect Conor Townsend to continue to deputise. Ben Johnson is flourishing further forward on the right ahead of Axel Tuanzebe, while Dara O’Shea and Cameron Burgess will play in front of Alex Palmer - who has proven to be a wonderful January signing.

The big takeaway from Wolves’ win on Tuesday night was the fact that manager Pereira and coach Luis Miguel picked up cards - and they will not be on the touchline at Portman Road as a result. On the pitch, Emmanuel Agbadou will continue at the heart of the defence flanked by Toti Gomes and Matt Doherty. 

Wolves’ 3-5-2 system has provided an upturn in results, so expect that to continue with Nelson Semedo and Rayan Ait-Nouri at wing-back. Jorgen Strand Larsen found the net and will lead the line once again, having now bagged 10 goals this season, while midfielder Joao Gomes has signed a new five-year deal as he plots out his long-term future at Molineux. Matheus Cunha will serve the final game of his four-match ban for violent conduct. 

Ipswich vs Wolves Odds

Ipswich are priced at 9/5 to win this home match having only won once in Suffolk this season, while Wolves are the slight favourites at 8/5. That gives the away side an implied win probability of 38%, while a draw can be backed at 12/5. 

In terms of goals, BTTS can be backed at 4/5 having come in during 63% of Ipswich’s matches this term, while over 2.5 goals is 1/1. Delap is unsurprisingly the current favourite to open the scoring at 9/2.

Ipswich to win and BTTS @ 9/2

Now, this is a really tough game to predict given where both teams find themselves in the table. Just as I was ready to write Ipswich off completely, they go and beat Bournemouth on the road, and I’m going to back them again to win again here. BTTS has come in during 63 per cent of Ipswich’s and Wolves’ fixtures this season so they are more than likely to produce goals once again. 

To further support my claim, both teams have scored in nine of Ipswich’s last 10 matches in all competitions, and looking at their recent results I’m happy to back that to come in again. I also think they can find another win against Wolves, having beaten them 2-1 earlier in the season. Cunha is a massive miss and although the visitors have done well in his absence, I think the Tractor Boys will realise this is their last chance saloon. With Delap up front, they’ve got enough about them to secure another high-scoring victory, when they need it most. Ipswich aren’t dead and buried just yet. 

Liam Delap to score @ 6/4

It’s clear for all onlookers that Delap is unlikely to be playing his football in Suffolk next season. The former Manchester City man has proven his quality in the Premier League with 11 goals in 29 matches so far, and he found the net again last time out against Bournemouth. 

He possesses pace, power and a wonderful eye for goal, and I’m more than happy to back him to score against a Wolves outfit that has conceded 58 goals this season. Only the bottom three themselves have let in more than the Old Gold in 2024/25, so let’s back the man in form to find the net again in this vital clash. 

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