Southampton vs Ipswich Town – Predictions, Predicted Lineups, Injury News

Southampton, currently languishing in 19th place, are yet to register a single point, while Ipswich Town sit just above them in 17th, having managed two points from their opening four games.

With both sides desperate for a win, this promises to be a tense and closely contested affair.

Southampton Match Preview

Southampton’s start to the season has been nothing short of disastrous. Despite having shown moments of promise, the Saints have been unable to convert their performances into results.

Having lost all four of their league games so far, Southampton have only managed to score once while conceding eight goals, leaving them with zero points on the board.

Their home form is particularly worrying, with two losses from two, failing to score a single goal at St Mary’s and conceding four in the process.

Last time out, Southampton faced a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester United. The match saw Southampton reduced to 10 men after Jack Stephens’ reckless challenge earned him a straight red card.

Despite creating some early chances, including a missed penalty from Archer, the Saints crumbled under United’s pressure.

With Stephens suspended for this upcoming match, the squad will be further weakened, and the absence of key players like Gavin Bazunu and Kamaldeen Sulemana due to injuries adds to their woes.

Defensively, Southampton have been unable to keep a clean sheet in their last five matches, highlighting their frailties at the back.

Coupled with a goal drought in three of their home fixtures, the pressure on the team to deliver is immense. The only silver lining is that they’ve historically held their own against Ipswich, with two wins and two draws in the last six encounters. But will this history be enough to push them to their first win of the season?

Ipswich Town Match Preview

Ipswich Town, while slightly better off than Southampton, haven’t had an easy ride this season either. They remain winless, having drawn two and lost two of their opening four matches.

While their defensive structure has held up relatively well in comparison to their opponents, they’ve struggled to make an impact offensively, managing just two goals and conceding seven.

Ipswich’s away form has been particularly poor, with a draw and a loss in their two outings, scoring just once while conceding four.

In their previous outing, Ipswich secured a goalless draw against a high-flying Brighton side at the AMEX. While they were heavily outplayed, with Brighton managing 21 shots, Ipswich’s resilience, particularly from goalkeeper Muric, kept them in the contest.

However, their failure to capitalize on their defensive efforts by converting chances into goals continues to be a pressing issue for manager Kieran McKenna.

Historically, Ipswich have enjoyed success against Southampton, having won the last two encounters between the two sides.

Their defense has proven difficult to break down, but to secure a much-needed win, Ipswich must find a way to improve their attacking output.

With Southampton struggling defensively, this match could be an opportunity for Ipswich to grab their first victory of the campaign.

Injury News

Southampton:

Jack Stephens – Suspended (red card).
Gavin Bazunu – Achilles tendon injury, expected return in late October 2024.
Juan Larios – Physical discomfort, doubtful for this match.
Kamaldeen Sulemana – Ankle injury, expected return in late September 2024.

Ipswich Town:

Harry Clarke – Achilles tendon injury, expected return in early October 2024.
Nathan Broadhead – Hamstring injury, expected return in late September 2024.

Southampton vs Ipswich Town Head-to-Head Record

The head-to-head record between these two sides is evenly balanced, with both teams having secured two wins apiece and the remaining two matches ending in draws.

Southampton’s last win against Ipswich came a few seasons ago, but Ipswich have had the upper hand in recent meetings, winning the last two. With the bookmakers predicting a close match, this game could easily swing either way.

Southampton vs Ipswich Town Predicted Lineups

Southampton XI (3-5-2):
Ramsdale; Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis, Sugawara; Ugochukwu, Downes, Dibling, Fernades; Brereton Diaz; Archer

Ipswich Town XI (4-2-3-1):
Muric; Davis, Greaves, Oshea, Tuanzebe; Morsy, Kalvin Phillips, Ogbene, Hutchinson; Szmodics, Delap

Southampton vs Ipswich Town – Who Will Win?

This match is incredibly difficult to call, given both teams’ poor form and struggles in front of goal. Southampton, with their home advantage and greater squad depth, may feel they have a slight edge.

However, Ipswich have proven to be a stubborn side and have history on their side, having won the last two meetings between the clubs. The match could be determined by which team is more clinical in front of goal, but with both teams’ goal-scoring woes, a low-scoring draw seems a likely outcome.

Score Prediction: Southampton 1-1 Ipswich Town