Finally, the Tractor Boys from Ipswich get to test themselves against a team they realistically have a chance of beating!
The first two matches of Ipswich Town’s Premier League comeback could hardly have been more challenging for Kieran McKenna’s team. The home match against Liverpool was very good, especially in the first half, but against Manchester City, they were severely punished for naive defensive mistakes. Still, there were positive elements to take from the Etihad.
They have slowly but surely put together a very powerful team and have recently signed quality players like Jack Clarke, Jens Cajuste, and Dara O’Shea. I expect this collective to grow stronger as the season progresses, and let’s not forget that they have one of the continent’s most exciting football coaches at the helm.
Last season was sensational for Ipswich Town, especially at home. They lost only one league match at Portman Road, and that was in a thrilling 3-4 match against Leeds United early in the season. Apart from that, they were nearly perfect on home turf, which has been the trend since McKenna took over the team in December 2021.
Fulham is a classic, stable Premier League team, but they have tended to vary a lot. Away from home, they only managed to pick up points in two consecutive matches twice last year. This underscores my point about how inconsistent they can be, ranging from exemplary to dreadful.
Defensively, they have strengthened with Joachim Andersen, but I firmly believe they are not to be trusted in away games. Last year, they lost nine of 18 away matches, conceding an average of two goals per game.
Therefore, I’m surprised that the visitors are such clear favorites at Portman Road, in what will be the “first” Premier League game where The Tractor Boys have a legitimate hope of winning. I believe they have a better chance than the 3.10 odds from Betway suggest.
