Match Pack: Ipswich Town v Watford

• Ipswich Town v Watford
• Sky Bet Championship
• Portman Road
• Wednesday April 10, 7.45pm KO
• Yellow and black home kit

• Referee: Sam Barrott
• Assistant Referees: Mark Dwyer and Robert Hyde
• Fourth Official: Dean Whitestone

Ipswich Town have been one of the most eye-catching stories in English football so far this season, with Kieran McKenna's side looking good to make it back-to-back promotions and earn a place in the Premier League next season.

The Tractor Boys have certainly impressed in their first season in the Championship since 2018/19, finding themselves locked in one of the great title races in recent second-tier history.

A last-gasp Jeremy Sarmiento winner earned Ipswich a 3-2 win over fellow promotion challengers Southampton on Easter Monday, sending the team top of the Championship.

However, defeat in their most recent outing, where they continued their winless run in the East Anglian derby with a 1-0 loss to Norwich City, means Ipswich now occupy third, one point behind leaders Leicester City and only behind second-placed Leeds on goal difference.

Norwich was just their third league defeat since Boxing Day, with Ipswich knowing, given the crazy nature of the battle for automatic promotion, that a return to winning ways is vital if they want to become the 11th side to earn successive promotions to the top flight.

• Ipswich Town have won each of their last three league meetings with Watford after only winning one of the previous 18 (D4 L13).

• No Championship side has lost fewer away games since the start of December than Watford (W6 D4 L2), with the Hornets unbeaten in their last five such games against newly promoted sides (W1 D4).

• After a 1-0 defeat to Norwich, Ipswich are looking to avoid losing successive Football League games for the first time since November 2021 under Paul Cook.

For a full statistical breakdown, click HERE.

Jeremy Ngakia and Ken Sema are the only two Watford players to miss this fixture through injury, although Interim Head Coach Tom Cleverley did provide a positive update on the pair's fitness.

He said: "They’ll re-join the training group on Thursday when we’re back from Ipswich.

"Saturday probably comes too soon for the pair of them, but they should be in contention for the weekend after against Hull."

For Ipswich, long-term absentees George Hirst and Wes Burns remain unavailable as they continue their recovery.

Tom Cleverley, Watford Interim Head Coach:

I’m really looking forward to the game, as are the squad. I think it’s an exciting game. For us to be a big part of the promotion run-in and have a big say in that keeps us motivated.

[With Ipswich] it's very much ‘we’ll outscore you’. They’ve got one of the most productive full-backs in the league with [Leif] Davis, they’ve got excitement with [Omari] Hutchinson and [Nathan] Broadhead and now they’ve signed Kieffer Moore who’s notoriously one of the best Championship strikers around.

They’ve got a lot going for them going forward, but as have we. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are goals.

Kieran McKenna, Ipswich Town Manager:

It’s a tough game, there’s no doubt about it. I think they’ve got a really strong squad, it’s certainly one of the strongest squads in the division.

They’re easily capable of being much, much higher [in the table] than they are, but it doesn’t change the fact that they’ve got a very high level of individual talent. They’ve got some good experience and physicality, good quality and good depth in their team.

We know it’s going to be a challenging game, but we also know it’s a Wednesday night at Portman Road. We know what we’re capable of in our stadium and what the supporters give to the atmosphere.

Overall:

Won: 26
Drawn: 17
Lost: 30

Last Six:

December 2023: Watford 1-2 Ipswich Town (Championship)
March 2015: Watford 0-1 Ipswich Town (Championship)
November 2014: Ipswich Town 1-0 Watford (Championship)
April 2014: Watford 3-1 Ipswich Town (Championship)
December 2013: Ipswich Town 1-1 Watford (Championship)
February 2013: Ipswich Town 0-2 Watford (Championship)

The Golden Boys' last win at Portman Road came more than 11 years ago in February 2013. Ikechi Anya gave Watford the lead in the first half, before Nathaniel Chalobah secured the victory with a second-half strike. The win left Watford just three points off the automatic promotion places as the season headed into the business end.