West Ham vs Ipswich Preview

• Draw result
• Clarke to score

West Ham’s Home Struggles Under Lopetegui

West Ham’s start to the Premier League season has been underwhelming following the summer change in management, parting ways with David Moyes and bringing in Julen Lopetegui.

With just one win from their opening six league games (D2, L3), the Hammers find themselves winless in their last four (D2, L2).

Despite a return to the London Stadium, where they’ll be seeking their first home points, West Ham may face challenges, having lost all three of their home league matches so far this season.

Their poor form at home is part of a wider slump, with just one win in their last nine top-flight matches at London Stadium (D4, L4). Defensively, their struggles are evident, with no clean sheets in league play at home since January.

However, they’ll be encouraged by their recent history against Ipswich, having suffered just one defeat in their last eight Premier League H2Hs (W3, D4). This fixture could be an opportunity to get their season back on track.

Ipswich’s Draw Streak and Hunt for a First Win

Ipswich come into this game just a point behind West Ham, having collected each of their four points from their last four matches—all ending in draws.

Should they draw again, they would be matching a rare Premier League record, as no team has drawn five consecutive games since Fulham in January 2021. Interestingly, two of the last three H2Hs between these teams also ended level, indicating a history of tight encounters.

Ipswich have found wins hard to come by in the Premier League, managing just one victory in their last 19 top-flight games (D7, L11) dating back to the end of their previous Premier League stint in 2001/02.

However, manager Kieran McKenna remains optimistic, suggesting his team is “improving.” The Tractor Boys will look to their successful league double over West Ham in their last shared campaign as inspiration to grab their first win of the season.

Key Players to Watch

Tomáš Souček (West Ham)

Souček has been a reliable contributor for West Ham this season, scoring twice. His tendency to score late goals is notable, as seven of his last eight goals for the club have come after half-time, making him a crucial player in the latter stages of the match.

Jack Clarke (Ipswich)

Clarke is a key goal-scoring asset for Ipswich, especially on the road, with 14 of his last 17 club goals coming away from home. His ability to find the net away from Portman Road could be vital if Ipswich are to break their winless streak and secure a crucial victory.

West Ham’s Home Slump vs Ipswich’s Draw Streak

• West Ham’s home form: Just one win in their last nine home league matches (D4, L4) and no home clean sheets since January.
• Ipswich’s recent Premier League form: Four consecutive draws, with the possibility of matching Fulham’s five-game draw streak from 2021.
• H2H history: West Ham unbeaten in their last eight Premier League H2Hs against Ipswich (W3, D4).

Conclusion

West Ham will be looking to use their home advantage to end their poor start at London Stadium and claim a much-needed win.

Ipswich, on the other hand, will hope to maintain their unbeaten streak and potentially match a record draw streak, while manager Kieran McKenna aims to secure his side’s first win of the campaign.

Given the recent form and H2H history, this could be a tightly contested match with both teams fighting hard for points.

Prediction: A hard-fought draw seems likely, with both sides struggling to find a decisive edge in a game that may see goals on either side.

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West Ham v Ipswich, 2024/25 | Premier League