Ipswich Town will wrap up their Premier League campaign at Portman Road (Image: PA)
Ipswich Town will wrap up their Premier League campaign at Portman Road (Image: PA)
Ipswich Town wrap up their Premier League campaign with a home match against West Ham United. Alex Jones previews the action...
Kieran McKenna's side were relegated at the end of April
Kieran McKenna's side were relegated at the end of April (Image: PA)
One last game
So it all comes down to this. Game 38 of 38. Once the full-time whistle has been blown at the end of Town’s game against West Ham, their Premier League journey – at least for now – will be over.
Promotion from the Championship was secured just over a year ago. The Blues had a big summer, spending heavily and strengthening for the new campaign. Unfortunately, the top flight wore them down, as it does to many teams. Week-by-week, the confidence drained until relegation was confirmed at the end of April.
There’s no shame in their efforts. Stepping up from League One to the Premier League was always going to be a huge ask, but that’s for another time. There’s still a game to be played and three points to be picked up. Kieran McKenna, his staff and his players will then have a long break to reflect on what they could have done differently.
Can they end their seven-match winless run before then?
The Blues are the only team in the top five tiers of English football yet to win a home league match in 2025
The Blues are the only team in the top five tiers of English football yet to win a home league match in 2025
(Image: Steve Waller)
Any chance of a home win?
Ipswich’s last win was on April 2nd, away at Bournemouth. That feels like a lifetime ago now. We can’t forget, however, that their last home league victory came all the way back on December 30th, beating Chelsea 2-0.
It means that they are the only side in England’s top five tiers not to win a home league game in 2025. In fact, since that game against Enzo Maresca’s side at the end of last year, the Blues have played eight games at Portman Road, losing every single one.
There are a variety of different reasons for this, but it’s hard to pinpoint one particular issue, especially considering that their away record is considerably better. Of Town’s 22 points, 15 came on the road – just two fewer than Tottenham and three less than Manchester United.
Ipswich season-ticket holders will be disappointed and understandably so, but this is one last chance to give them something to cheer about before the summer. Some players may not get the opportunity to make up for it next season, of course...
Liam Delap is expected to leave Portman Road this summer
Liam Delap is expected to leave Portman Road this summer (Image: PA)
Potential goodbyes
We know that Massimo Luongo will play his last game for Ipswich this weekend, departing the club when his contract ends. His minutes have been limited in the Premier League, but in two and a half years at the club, he’s played a vital role and is clearly a huge personality in the dressing room.
Liam Delap is destined for a summer move to a top Premier League team and McKenna has admitted that it's likely. The 22-year-old has bagged 12 goals and two assists so far this season, and while some supporters have been frustrated by all the transfer speculation surrounding him, he deserves a proper send-off for everything he’s given to the club since arriving last summer.
Cameron Burgess and Axel Tuanzebe are both out of contract, and while they are in talks with the club, they are both taking time to assess their options. Burgess has been incredibly reliable for Town, playing a vital role in back-to-back promotions. Tuanzebe’s quality is clear for all to see.
Of course, the Blues’ loanees will also return to their parent clubs. They would surely love to have Jens Cajuste and Julio Enciso in the Championship next season, but that seems highly unlikely, so they will be expected to say farewell after facing the Hammers. Kalvin Phillips and Ben Godfrey are in the same position.
It could be quite an emotional afternoon.
West Ham have had a difficult season under two different managers
West Ham have had a difficult season under two different managers (Image: PA)
Unhappy Hammers
Like Ipswich, West Ham want this season to be over. The Hammers have had a tumultuous campaign, with 10 wins, 10 draws, 17 defeats, two managers and two reported dressing room bust-ups.
In the reverse fixture, they eased past Town at the London Stadium, winning 4-1 to end a poor start to the season. Under Julen Lopetegui, West Ham showed some signs of life around Christmas, but it simply wasn’t enough. Heavy defeats to Liverpool and Man City saw him sacked at the start of January.
New boss Graham Potter is still in the early stages of his tenure in East London. He was given one January signing – Evan Ferguson on loan from Brighton – and it’s clear that this squad isn’t suited to his style of play.
Results have been poor, with four wins since his arrival. If the bottom three weren’t cut adrift, West Ham undoubtedly would have been at risk of relegation. They will need a big summer, replacing the core of the squad while keeping star players like Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus.
One confirmed departure is that of Aaron Cresswell, who spent three seasons at Ipswich before joining the Hammers in 2014/15. His 10-year spell at the club has now come to an end and he’ll be looking for a new club in the next few weeks.
Possible West Ham XI: 3-4-1-2: Areola; Todibo, Kilman, Cresswell; Coufal, Ward-Prowse, Alvarez, Wan-Bissaka; Soucek; Bowen, Kudus
Kalvin Phillips is expected to miss the game against his former team
Kalvin Phillips is expected to miss the game against his former team (Image: PA)
Team news
Town’s long-term absentees will obviously miss this game. Jaden Philogene (MCL), Chiedozie Ogbene (Achilles), Wes Burns (ACL), Kalvin Phillips (Achilles), Conor Townsend (hamstring) and Aro Muric (shoulder) will not be available.
We’ll have to wait and see if Sammie Szmodics (ankle), who has been out since the end of February but called up for the Republic of Ireland’s upcoming international games, is able to play any minutes.
Alex Palmer will keep his place in goal, with the back line and midfield likely staying the same unless McKenna decides to give Luongo one last start. Up front, with all the speculation surrounding Delap, George Hirst may keen his place, leaving a question mark over the three behind the striker.
Enciso, Omari Hutchinson and Jack Clarke played against Leicester last weekend, but it didn’t quite click for Ipswich. McKenna may look to change things up to face the Hammers.
Possible Town XI: 4-2-3-1: Palmer; Tuanzebe, O’Shea, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Cajuste; Johnson, Hutchinson, Clarke; Hirst
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