Weekend Reflection: Ipswich Town’s Struggles in the Championship
A weekend that might solidify Ipswich Town’s status as Championship participants for the upcoming season unfolded, with West Ham seemingly safe from trouble. This leaves Wolverhampton Wanderers as the sole contender among the promoted trio. Wolves have managed to secure victories in two of their last three matches, while Ipswich has only claimed three wins all season. The mathematics here are straightforward.
Questions must be raised regarding Ipswich’s performance this season, especially if this is how it concludes. While there were moments of brightness—such as missing key chances when the score was 0-0 and 1-0 down against Tottenham Hotspur—it’s crucial to recognize that they genuinely could have altered the outcome had circumstances been more favorable. However, this perspective offers excessive leniency to a club that has invested a staggering £130 million this season yet struggles defensively.
It’s important to note that while Ipswich is not an established top-flight club, the considerable financial investment made this season necessitates higher expectations. This is not akin to Luton Town, who are cautiously saving their funds for a stronger return. Ipswich spent heavily with the intention of solidifying their Premier League status, yet they have fallen drastically short of that goal.
The question arises: why has this happened? The answer lies in their inability to safeguard their own goal, both in terms of possession—where careless mistakes in passing and ball control are prevalent—and out of possession, with players frequently caught upfield and a central midfield that lacks the necessary strength.
- Interestingly, Ipswich ranks only 16th for shots faced, having allowed fewer than Brentford.
- However, unlike Brentford, who focus on limiting the quality of shots taken against them, Ipswich has been woeful in this regard.
Indeed, only Leicester City has conceded a higher percentage of shots faced, and only Manchester City surpasses Ipswich in terms of expected goals (xG) per shot faced. When it comes to total xG faced, Ipswich is in a precarious position, with only Southampton boasting a worse record—definitely not a club you want to be associated with.
The alarming reality is that the situation is deteriorating. It’s common for promoted teams to experience a settling period, eventually finding a rhythm and a system that enables them to grind out crucial points. Yet, Ipswich has managed to secure merely two points in 2025 and has conceded a staggering 14 goals in their last four home matches. By any standard, this is simply unacceptable.
