Written by billythekid
After taking another big scalp by beating Spurs and winning two games in a row, our next game is away in the County of Suffolk against newcomers this season to the Premier League Ipswich Town. The game is at their Portman Road stadium, their home for 140 years on Sunday at 2 pm.
Ipswich v AFC Bournemouth
Ipswich Win
Ipswich Win
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Draw
Draw
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AFCB Win
AFCB Win
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When we were in the Championship, our last two visits ended in draws. In their last five games, Ipswich have only conceded one goal in each game. Three of those are at home. They are equal top with Brighton for the most draws at home this season with four draws in their seven games. Can AFCB make this our third win in a row? The best so far this season has been two wins in a row, the last two games.
It’s 22 years since they were last in the top league, they achieved this by finishing second and one point behind Leicester City in the Championship last season. The previous season they were promoted from League 1 and only the fifth club to achieve back-to-back promotions to the Premier League. The others being Watford, Manchester City, Norwich City and Southampton.
The Tractor Boys manager is Kieran McKenna, he joined Ipswich Town in December 2021 and this was his first club as a manager. He retired from football when he was 22-years-old due to an injury at his club Spurs. He took up coaching and an academy role at Spurs, before later doing a similar role at Manchester United. He then joined the coaching staff at Old Trafford.
In his first full season (2022-23) at Portman Road, his side won promotion to the Championship, from February they had a run of 8 straight wins, then a draw, followed by 5 wins and a draw. When AFCB were promoted from League 1, we ended with 8 straight wins and a draw, in a 13-game unbeaten run.
This season in the Premier League they have struggled and at home have drawn against Fulham 1-1, Aston Villa 2-2, and 1-1 against Leicester City and Manchester United. They have lost against both Merseyside clubs Liverpool and Everton 0-2 and most recently 0-1 to Crystal Palace. Away from home, they have won one game and that was against Spurs. They have drawn with Brighton and Southampton and lost to Manchester City, West Ham, Brentford and Nottingham Forest.
The last time the Cherries visited Portman Road was in our promotion-winning season 2014-15 into the Premier League. The game was in April and it finished in a 1-1 draw. Freddie Sears scored for Ipswich Town in the sixth minute, but late into the game substitute and on his debut, Kenwyne Jones who was on loan equalised after only being on the pitch for three minutes when he headed in a corner.
In our league away games against Ipswich Town, AFCB have W 3, D 4, L 9.
In all competitions, AFCB have W 11, D 13, L 14.
Ipswich Town Team News
They have a few players out with injuries.
Ipswich Town Player To Watch
Watched their game against Palace and on the night nobody really stood out. Their leading scorer is Liam Delap with 6 goals, he had the most shots with four out of both set of players in Tuesday night’s game. Last season Leif Davis had 18 assists and was a live wire down the left for his club.
AFCB Team News
Apart from the players that are out that we know about, Marcus Senesi missed the game against Spurs through injury. Lewis Cook was available again. Maybe we will see one or two changes with games coming close together.
AFCB Player To Watch
After the missed chances against Spurs, our best chance of goals is from Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson. In midfield, Marcus Tavernier leads with four assists, two in his last two games.
The Referee
Is Michael Salisbury, last season he was in charge of our home game against Arsenal and our away game against Newcastle United.
Matt Stevenson added
I’ve looked at the last 4 league games for Ipswich. These were two home games (Man Utd and C Palace) and two away games (Spurs and N Forest). Ipswich have gained 4 points, which is close to that suggested by xG. Ipswich have scored 3 goals and conceded 4 with xG estimating 5.47 goals with 5.51 conceded.
Goals Xg.jpg
Matt Stevenson · Dec 6, 2024 at 11:19 PM
">Goals Xg.jpg
Ipswich have had 3 different goal scorers with 1 each. 2 players have 1 assist each.
The average positions of the starting line-ups are below. Generally, the formation is quite defensive, although in the home game against Man Utd more players ventured into the opposition half, maybe as they went behind very early in that game.
Av Pos.jpg
Matt Stevenson · Dec 6, 2024 at 11:19 PM
">Av Pos.jpg
The following plot compares summary stats of Ipswich and AFCB over the last 4 games.
We have markedly more goal attempts per game and more big chances, resulting in more than 5 goals difference. Ipswich have conceded more chances, and fewer big chances, but have let in less goals. xG and xGc are both in Bournemouth’s favour. Ipswich have had two errors leading to chances and AFCB one.
Comparison.png
Matt Stevenson · Dec 6, 2024 at 11:19 PM
">Comparison.png
Across the four metrics of possession, pass completion and chances created and conceded from open play the two teams have very similar values.
Percentages.png
Matt Stevenson · Dec 6, 2024 at 11:19 PM
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Your say…
Percentages.png
Matt Stevenson · Dec 6, 2024 at 11:19 PM
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thegazzyb
This seems like a game where we could really do with an early goal to force them to come out and play a bit. If we manage that, I think we’ll have far too much for them. We do tend to struggle when teams sit back and let us have all of the ball though and if Ipswich have done their homework, that will be the tactic they will most likely employ.
That’s why these “easy on paper” games tend to be different to the norm and in the end anything but easy.
But I’m sure that AI will have a plan for all eventualities. – To join the conversation, please click here.