Brentford vs Ipswich Preview
- Draw or Brentford win
- Brentford to keep clean sheet
Brentford will be eager to bounce back after a frustrating run of form in the Premier League, having opened the scoring in six consecutive matches but only winning two of them (D1, L3).
Their latest setback was a 2-1 defeat at Manchester United, adding to losses against top opposition such as Tottenham and Manchester City.
While the calibre of their opponents has been tough, Thomas Frank’s side has consistently struggled to hold onto leads, a long-standing issue that plagued them last season when they dropped a league-high 30 points from winning positions.
This season, they’ve already dropped 11 points in similar fashion, something they’ll need to fix if they want to turn their fortunes around.
Brentford should be confident heading into their first-ever top-flight clash with newly-promoted Ipswich, as they’ve lost just one of their last nine league H2Hs (W4, D4). With home advantage at the Gtech Community Stadium, the Bees will be looking to capitalise and get back on track.
Ipswich’s Struggles Continue
Ipswich are still searching for their first Premier League win this season, having failed to pick up three points in any of their opening eight games.
Their 2-0 defeat to Everton in their last outing added to the Tractor Boys’ struggles, making them one of just four teams without a win in the league.
History hasn’t been kind to clubs with such a poor start, and only twice before have Ipswich endured a longer winless start to a season – most recently in 2018/19, a campaign that saw them relegated to the third tier.
Despite the tough situation, manager Kieran McKenna remains optimistic, stating that his side are “not that far away” from their first victory.
However, their recent record against Brentford doesn’t inspire much confidence, having lost each of their last three league visits to the Bees without scoring. McKenna will hope to end that drought at the Gtech Community Stadium and kickstart Ipswich’s campaign.
Key Battle: Ethan Pinnock vs Liam Delap
Brentford defender Ethan Pinnock will be looking to continue his fine form, having scored in consecutive games with towering headers.
He’ll aim to become the first Premier League player since Harry Kane in 2022 to score a header in three consecutive matches. Pinnock’s presence in set-piece situations could be crucial for Brentford as they look to secure an important win.
For Ipswich, Liam Delap has been a bright spark in an otherwise challenging campaign, scoring four of the team’s six goals this season.
With the rest of his teammates struggling to find the back of the net, Delap will be their primary attacking threat, though Ipswich’s lack of shots and low XG total may make it difficult for him to make a decisive impact.
Prediction
Brentford will likely feel the pressure to hold onto any lead they can establish in this match, especially given Ipswich’s struggles on the road and inability to score in recent visits to West London.
While Ipswich will be desperate to break their winless streak, Brentford’s home advantage and superior squad depth should give them the edge.
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Brentford v Ipswich, 2024/25 | Premier League