Bournemouth vs Ipswich Preview
- Bournemouth to win
- Over 2.5 goals
Bournemouth return to Premier League action following their FA Cup heartache, where they were edged out 2-1 by Manchester City despite taking the lead.
That spirited performance could act as a confidence booster as the Cherries now shift focus back to their historic push for European qualification. With nine games remaining, Andoni Iraola’s men are just five points adrift of the top four—but time is ticking.
They’ll fancy their chances of bouncing back against bottom-placed Ipswich Town, who are enduring a nightmarish 2025 campaign and sit nine points from safety heading into this midweek clash.
Bournemouth: Reignite the European Dream
After an excellent run of form through the winter, Bournemouth have hit a bump in the road, losing three of their last four league games, a stark contrast to the 10 wins from the previous 18 (D5, L3).
They’ve also lost three straight Premier League home matches, and a fourth here would mark their worst-ever home run in the competition.
Fortunately, a fixture against struggling Ipswich offers a golden opportunity to get back on track, particularly with European football still a realistic goal.
A win here would also see Bournemouth complete a first league double over Ipswich since the 1949/50 season, having claimed a 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture, with Dango Ouattara playing a starring role.
Ipswich Town: Relegation Beckoning
The writing appears to be on the wall for Kieran McKenna’s side. Winless in the league in 2025 (D2, L8), Ipswich are now nine points adrift of safety and looking increasingly destined for a return to the Championship.
A defeat here would mark their fifth in a row and their worst losing streak since 2011. Despite the grim numbers, there are minor reasons for hope:
- They’ve taken 59% of their total points away from home, the highest proportion in the league.
- They’ve scored five goals in their last four defeats, showing they can pose an attacking threat.
- Ipswich have earned draws in five of six games against the three sides directly above Bournemouth this season, showing they can frustrate teams in the upper half.
Another positive trend is the entertaining nature of this fixture—both teams have scored in each of the last eight H2Hs, a run dating back to 1989.
Head-to-Head Insights
- Bournemouth won the reverse fixture 2-1
- Both teams have scored in the last 8 H2Hs (since 1989)
- Bournemouth have lost their last 3 home league matches
- Ipswich are winless in 2025 (D2, L8)
- Ipswich have scored in each of their last 4 defeats
- Ipswich have earned 59% of their points away from home
Players to Watch
Dango Ouattara (Bournemouth)
Ouattara thrives against struggling sides—three of his goals this season have come against bottom-three teams. He also scored and assisted in the reverse fixture and will be a key figure again in Bournemouth’s attack.
Liam Delap (Ipswich)
Delap has scored 10 goals this season, with four of them being opening goals. However, Ipswich have won just one of those games, underlining the lack of support around him. Still, his ability to strike early could offer a lifeline if the visitors are to get anything here.
Prediction: Can Bournemouth Bounce Back?
This is a classic case of opportunity meets urgency. Bournemouth’s home form has dipped, but against an Ipswich side that is winless in 2025 and leaky at the back, this is an ideal chance to reignite their European push.
Ipswich may score—both teams have done so in their last 8 meetings—but Bournemouth’s extra quality and motivation should see them through.
Predicted Score: Bournemouth 3-1 Ipswich Town
Bournemouth stay in the top-four conversation, while Ipswich edge one step closer to relegation, despite showing some fight.
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Bournemouth v Ipswich, 2024/25 | Premier League