Ipswich vs Tottenham Preview

• Draw or Spurs win
• Both teams to score

Relegation-battling Ipswich Town welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Portman Road in a clash that carries high stakes for both teams.

Ipswich are winless in six and remain the Premier League’s most out-of-form team, while Spurs have secured back-to-back wins and clean sheets for the first time since September.

Despite their struggles, Ipswich can take confidence from their previous 2-1 victory over Tottenham in the reverse fixture, as well as their resilience in last week’s 1-1 draw at Aston Villa, which they achieved while defending with ten men for much of the second half.

On the other hand, Tottenham’s fortunes appear to be turning, with key players returning from injury and their defensive stability improving.

Ange Postecoglou’s men will now be eager to secure their first win over Ipswich this century and further strengthen their push for European qualification.

Ipswich Town: Searching for Stability

Ipswich Town’s struggles have been well-documented, and their failure to win in their last six league outings (D2, L4) has seen them sink deeper into relegation trouble.

However, their defensive effort against Villa last weekend and their earlier win over Tottenham suggest that they can still deliver results against stronger opposition.

Why Ipswich Fans Can Be Optimistic

Proven ability to frustrate stronger teams, as seen in their draw at Leicester and win over Tottenham.
Recent home win over a London club (2-0 vs Chelsea) shows they can rise to the occasion.
Sammie Szmodics’ form, who has been clinical in the first half of games.

Recent Form (Last Five Matches in All Competitions)

• Premier League: Aston Villa 1-1 Ipswich – D
• FA Cup: Ipswich 4-1 Coventry – W
• Premier League: Southampton 2-1 Ipswich – L
• Premier League: Ipswich 1-3 Newcastle – L
• Premier League: Brentford 2-0 Ipswich – L

Key Player: Sammie Szmodics

• Scored Ipswich’s opener in five of his last six competitive goals this season.
• Found the net against Tottenham in November.
• Lively in the early stages of games, posing an immediate threat.

Tottenham Hotspur: Building Momentum

After a poor run of results, Tottenham have turned a corner, securing consecutive 1-0 victories over Manchester United and Brentford.

Spurs look more solid defensively, having kept clean sheets in their last two matches, compared to just four in their previous 21 games this season.

Ange Postecoglou was deeply critical of himself after their shock 2-1 defeat to Ipswich in November, making this a revenge mission for the North London side. With the injury crisis easing, Spurs should be confident of continuing their resurgence.

Why Tottenham Fans Can Be Hopeful

• James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert, and Guglielmo Vicario are back from injury.
• First back-to-back clean sheets since September show improved defensive discipline.
• Motivation for revenge after their shock loss in the reverse fixture.

Recent Form (Last Five Matches in All Competitions)

• Premier League: Tottenham 1-0 Manchester United – W
• Premier League: Brentford 0-1 Tottenham – W
• FA Cup: Aston Villa 2-1 Tottenham – L
• Premier League: Tottenham 2-2 Leicester – D
• Premier League: Tottenham 1-2 Chelsea – L

Key Player: James Maddison

• Returned from injury and immediately improved Tottenham’s creativity.
• Scored the first goal in his last five goal-scoring appearances.
• Will be key in breaking down Ipswich’s defence.

Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Meetings)

Key Trends

• Ipswich have won the most recent meeting (2-1).
• Spurs have failed to beat Ipswich in their last four encounters.
• Spurs have never won at Portman Road in the 21st century.

Tactical Insights

Ipswich’s Approach

• Look to start fast and take an early lead.
• Absorb pressure and frustrate Tottenham’s attack.
• Exploit set-pieces and counter-attacks.

Tottenham’s Approach

• Utilize Maddison’s creativity to unlock the Ipswich defence.
• Control possession and push full-backs forward.
• Remain disciplined at the back to avoid another shock defeat.

Match Prediction

Despite their recent struggles, Ipswich have proven they can cause an upset, as they did against Tottenham in November. However, Spurs look much stronger now, with their defensive shape improving and key players returning from injury.

Ipswich will fight hard at home, but Tottenham’s quality should shine through in a narrow away win.

Final Score Prediction: Ipswich 1-2 Tottenham

• Szmodics to score early for Ipswich.
• Maddison to create a goal for Tottenham.
• Spurs to extend their winning streak to three games.

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Ipswich v Spurs, 2024/25 | Premier League