Ipswich Town vs. Fulham: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

Fulham were six times more likely to draw when playing away from home than they were at home last season, registering six away draws in the league compared to just two at home.

Both teams have found the back of the net in four of Ipswich's last six competitive games and two of Fulham's last three.

Ipswich looked strong in front of their own fans on the opening day against Liverpool, and with a kinder fixture in front of them (difficulty-wise) here we think they'll claim their first points of the season.

Fulham are by no means a soft touch, but Portman Road will produce a raucous atmosphere and the Tractor Boys should deliver a strong performance. Ipswich 1-1 Fulham.

Ipswich Town's return to the Premier League has been met with a harsh reality check. After a remarkable few years that saw them achieve successive promotions, the newly promoted side has found the step up to the top tier of English football to be a significant challenge. With two games played, Ipswich sit 18th in the Premier League table, yet to register a point. Their first two fixtures couldn’t have been more daunting, facing off against Liverpool and Manchester City—two of the league’s most formidable opponents. As they prepare to take on Fulham this Saturday, Ipswich will be keen to get their first points on the board, though the task will be far from straightforward.

• Date: 31/08/2024
• Kick-off time: 15:00
• Location: Portman Road, Ipswich

Kieran McKenna, who has overseen Ipswich’s rise through the divisions, remains confident in his team’s ability to compete at this level. The squad has been significantly bolstered over the summer transfer window, with new signings aimed at both strengthening the squad and providing the depth necessary to survive a Premier League campaign. This week, two notable arrivals were confirmed: Jack Clarke, the dynamic winger from Sunderland, and Dara O'Shea, a centre-back with Premier League experience, signed from Burnley. Clarke’s ability to stretch defences and score goals from wide areas will be crucial, especially given Ipswich’s need to pose a greater attacking threat. Meanwhile, O'Shea’s defensive solidity and on-ball qualities at the back are expected to be vital in shoring up a defence that has already conceded six goals in two matches.

Despite these reinforcements, Ipswich are under no illusions about the challenge that lies ahead. The Premier League is unforgiving, and they will need to quickly adapt if they are to avoid being drawn into an early relegation battle. The home fixture against Fulham offers an opportunity to kickstart their season, but it will require a disciplined performance.

Fulham, on the other hand, come into this match with a sense of optimism, albeit tempered by the challenges of a turbulent summer. Marco Silva’s side have had a solid start to their Premier League campaign, sitting 10th in the table with three points from two games. Their opening performances have been marked by resilience, particularly given the significant changes to their squad during the off-season. The departures of key players like João Palinha and Tosin Adarabioyo left a considerable void, and there were concerns about how Fulham would cope without them.

However, Fulham have moved swiftly to address these losses. Sander Berge, signed from Burnley, brings physicality and composure to the midfield, offering Silva’s side a valuable blend of defensive and offensive attributes. Berge's presence in the middle of the park will be crucial in adding a much-needed physical presence to the middle of the park. In defence, Joachim Andersen, who arrived for a fee of around £28 million, has been tasked with filling the gap left by Adarabioyo. Andersen’s experience and ability to organise the backline will be pivotal as Fulham look to maintain their defensive stability.

Although Fulham have made a positive start to the season, Silva will be aware of the importance of consistency in a league as competitive as the Premier League. Integrating the new signings into the squad quickly will be key to maintaining their early momentum. Saturday’s match against Ipswich presents Fulham with a chance to build on their good start, but they cannot afford to underestimate their opponents. Ipswich, despite their struggles, will be desperate to prove they belong at this level, and Fulham will need to be at their best to avoid any slip-ups.

This game will not be televised live to UK audiences, but full radio coverage will be provided by BBC Radio Suffolk.

Ipswich Team News:

New signing Dara O'Shea should be in the matchday squad; whether that's in the starting XI or on the bench remains to be seen.

Jack Clarke will also be in the squad, but likely as a substitute.

Wes Burns, Nathan Broadhead, George Hirst and Harry Clarke will all miss out through injury.

Predicted lineup: Muric; Johnson, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Luongo; Hutchinson, Chaplin, Szmodics; Delap.

Fulham Team News:

The Cottagers should welcome Joachim Andersen into the matchday squad, but new signing Sander Berge will likely be out injured until after the international break.

Marco Silva will likely stick with the same XI that started the win over Leicester.

Predicted lineup: Leno; Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Pereira, Lukić; Adama, Smith-Rowe, Iwobi; Muniz.

Ipswich kicked off their Premier League campaign with a game at home to Liverpool, a match that ultimately ended in a 0-2 defeat. Ipswich were very good in the first half and went toe-to-toe with the Premier League giants, but some moments of notable individual quality saw Liverpool score twice in the second half through Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah.

On Saturday afternoon, Ipswich travelled to Portman Road to take on Manchester City. Most expected Ipswich to succumb to a resounding defeat and that’s exactly what happened, as Kieran McKenna’s side were hammered 4-1.

New signing Sammie Szmodics opened his account for the club to give the Tractor Boys a shock 1-0 lead, but City responded quickly and drew level through an Erling Haaland penalty.

A pair of errors from goalkeeper Arijanet Muric allowed City to go 3-1 up through Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, before Haaland completed his hat-trick with a driven finish from range in the second half.

It may not have made much of a difference, but Ipswich were denied what looked like a clear penalty in the first half with the scoreline at 3-1 as Leif Davis was brought down by Savinho in the box, so no doubt that will be a point of frustration for McKenna and co.

Fulham’s opening game of the season came against Manchester United. Fulham were arguably the better side for much of the game but were extremely wasteful, spurning a number of big counter-attacking opportunities.

The Cottagers were made to pay for their indecisiveness as substitute Joshua Zirkzee netted a late winner for the home side, condemning Fulham to a regrettable defeat at Old Trafford.

At the weekend, Fulham welcomed Leicester City to Craven Cottage and made up for the previous week’s errors, as goals from Emile Smith-Rowe and Alex Iwobi sealed a deserved 2-1 win.

Fulham were the better team throughout and largely stifled Leicester, with the visitors’ only goal coming from a set piece.

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