Ipswich vs Brighton Preview

• Draw
• Both teams to score

Ipswich Town host Brighton & Hove Albion at Portman Road in a critical clash for both sides. The Tractor Boys are fighting to escape the relegation zone, while Brighton aim to revive their league form after a series of draws.

This game presents an opportunity for Ipswich to build on recent momentum and for Brighton to turn their FA Cup success into Premier League points.

Ipswich Town: A Fight for Survival

Ipswich Town, one of the promoted sides this season, are battling to stay in the top flight. Despite sitting in the bottom three, they’ve shown signs of promise, winning two of their last five league games (D1, L2).

A victory here would see Ipswich secure back-to-back home wins in the Premier League for the first time since 2002, a crucial boost in their survival bid.

However, home form has been a glaring weakness. Ipswich have just one home league victory this season (W1, D4, L5), leaving them with the joint-second worst home record in the division.

Sammie Szmodics will be a key figure, having opened the scoring in all four of his league goals this season, though all came on the road.

Key Player to Watch

Sammie Szmodics: The dynamic forward’s knack for scoring first-half goals could be vital for Ipswich to gain an early foothold in the game.

Brighton: Drawing Too Much?

Fabian Hürzeler’s Brighton come into this game buoyed by a 3-0 FA Cup win over Norwich, snapping an eight-game winless run.

Despite not winning in the league since late November, the Seagulls have only lost twice in their last ten Premier League matches, with six ending in draws.

Brighton’s habit of surrendering leads has been costly, particularly against lower-ranked opposition.

All four of their league games against teams in the pre-round bottom four ended in stalemates, with Brighton leading in three of those matches. A draw here would make them the first team since Fulham in 2020/21 to record five consecutive top-flight draws.

Key Player to Watch

Georginio Rutter: The forward netted twice in the FA Cup against Norwich and has fond memories of Portman Road, scoring here last season while playing for Leeds.

Head-to-Head Record

• The last three meetings between these sides have ended in draws.
• This is the first top-flight clash between Ipswich and Brighton since January 1983.
• Brighton have failed to beat Ipswich in their last five visits to Portman Road in all competitions (D3, L2).

Tactical Insights and Key Battles

Ipswich’s Home Struggles vs Brighton’s Away Record

Ipswich’s poor home form could be exploited by Brighton’s superior possession-based style. However, Brighton’s tendency to drop points against lower-ranked teams gives Ipswich hope of a result.

Early Goals Crucial

Both teams will aim to score early to dictate the tempo. Ipswich’s Sammie Szmodics has been effective in opening the scoring, while Brighton’s Rutter will look to maintain his FA Cup form.

Midfield Control

The battle between Ipswich’s Morsy and Brighton’s Mitoma in midfield will be pivotal. Ipswich must disrupt Brighton’s passing rhythm to prevent their attackers from finding space.

Prediction: A Hard-Fought Draw

With Ipswich fighting for survival and Brighton’s penchant for draws, this game has all the makings of another stalemate. While Brighton’s quality could see them edge it, Ipswich’s desperation and home crowd might help them salvage a point.

Predicted Score: Ipswich Town 1-1 Brighton

Final Thoughts

This clash represents a crucial opportunity for Ipswich to boost their survival hopes and for Brighton to turn their dominance into three points. Expect a tight contest with both teams eager to prove a point in this rare Premier League meeting.

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Ipswich v Brighton, 2024/25 | Premier League