Ipswich vs Brentford Preview
- Brentford to win
- Both teams to score
The Premier League curtain may be coming down early on Ipswich Town and their top-flight adventure, but with pride and prize money still on the line, the Tractor Boys will be determined to give their fans something to cheer about in the closing weeks. With just three matches remaining and their return to the Championship all but confirmed, a spirited 2-2 draw away at Everton last weekend did at least showcase some late-season fight.
Coming from two goals down at Goodison Park to rescue a point highlighted the resilience that manager Kieran McKenna has been calling for. However, with just one win from their last ten league encounters against Brentford (D4, L5), the Suffolk club face an uphill battle. Their last success in this head-to-head came all the way back in August 2017, and their current form gives little indication of that changing.
Portman Road Woes Continue
While Ipswich’s overall home league record against Brentford is more encouraging (W2, D4, L1), form at Portman Road in this campaign has been troubling. No team outside of bottom club Southampton has amassed fewer home points this season than Ipswich’s meagre haul of seven (W1, D4, L12), a damning statistic that has contributed significantly to their impending relegation.
They’ve now lost seven consecutive Premier League home matches, their worst such run in club history, conceding a staggering 24 goals during that sequence — an average of 3.43 goals per game. Defensive fragility, especially on their own turf, has made Ipswich a soft touch, and with only two home fixtures left to play, their best hope may be to salvage dignity with a strong showing against in-form opposition.
Brentford Buzzing Again
Brentford, in stark contrast, have enjoyed a remarkable resurgence. Three successive Premier League wins, including a dramatic 4-3 thriller over Manchester United last weekend, have propelled Thomas Frank’s side back into contention for a potential European place. A fourth win in a row here would represent their best top-flight winning run since 1939, a feat that would underline their continued rise in English football’s elite tier.
The Bees have shown an incredible attacking streak of late, having now scored four goals in nine separate league games this season — one shy of hitting double digits in that column for the first time in their top-flight history. It’s no wonder Frank described the number of goals his side are scoring as “crazy”, especially considering their firepower on the road.
Brentford have found the net in each of their last eight away league games (W6, D1, L1), with their most recent trip seeing them dispatch Nottingham Forest 2-0 at the City Ground. That result ended a brief two-match winless run on their travels and reaffirmed their credentials as one of the most dangerous visitors in the division.
Players to Watch
Ipswich forward George Hirst was the hero last weekend, netting the equaliser at Everton. He has now scored three goals in his last five appearances, all headers and each coming after the 50th minute — an indication of his late-game aerial threat.
Brentford’s in-form man is Kevin Schade, who has found the net three times in his last two appearances. Like Hirst, he’s a menace in the air, with three of his last five goals coming via his head — two of those arriving after the 65th minute. With both sides boasting late-game scorers, expect the action to go the distance.
Hot Stat
Brentford have conceded just two goals from set pieces all season — the best such record in the Premier League. In stark contrast, Ipswich have conceded 12 goals from dead-ball situations, a worrying sign against a team with proven aerial prowess.
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Ipswich v Brentford, 2024/25 | Premier League