Ipswich Town vs Queens Park Rangers prediction 29.12.2023

• Competition: Championship
• Date: Friday, 29th December 2023
• Kickoff: 19:45 UK / 20:45 CET
• Venue: Portman Road (Ipswich)

Ipswich Town, who secured their promotion to the Championship after finishing second in League One last year, are now eyeing their second consecutive promotion and a return to the top-tier English division, a feat they haven’t achieved since the 2001/02 season. As the current season commenced, expectations for Ipswich Town weren’t high, but their performance, holding the 2nd position over half the season, can’t be chalked up to mere luck or a temporary hot streak. Presently, the Blues hold a five-point lead over Southampton, who sit in third place. Victories in games like these are crucial if they wish to remain in the running for promotion.

Queens Park Rangers faced relegation from the Premier League in the 2014/15 season and have struggled to regain their former standing since. They finished the previous season in the 20th spot, narrowly avoiding the relegation zone. Their current season appears even bleaker as they sit in the 22nd position with just 20 points, a significant five points away from safety. Their poor standing led to the dismissal of coach Gareth Ainsworth in late October, which momentarily seemed to shift their downward trajectory. However, this improvement was fleeting, with the team currently on a three-game losing streak due to subpar performances.

Ipswich vs QPR pick: Ipswich to win and cover the -1 AH spread

Ipswich Town managed to secure only two points in their last three games. However, we don’t believe their momentum is dwindling. The main reason for this streak is the challenging fixtures they had against Leeds, Norwich, and Leicester. Now, facing a weaker team this season at home, we predict a strong comeback with a solid victory. At their home ground, Portman Road, the Blues have shown remarkable performance, registering nine wins in 12 games and an impressive 33 goals (averaging 2.75 per game). Despite accumulating numerous points on away games, their offense significantly outperforms at home, with 33 goals scored compared to 15 when playing away.

Queens Park Rangers have had a dismal performance lately, securing just one point in their past four games. Notably, their only game against a competent opponent (Southampton) also didn’t go well. Their offensive gameplay has been notably poor, with only one goal scored in this period, which ironically was an own goal by Sheffield Wednesday. A detailed examination of QPR’s games against the top six teams reveals their inability to match up to the league’s best, evident from their loss in all six matches.

In the last head-to-head match, Ipswich Town triumphed with a 1:0 victory on the opponent’s ground. Now, considering their home field advantage and previous performance, we foresee a secure victory for the Blues, likely with a goal difference of two.