Premier League | Gameweek 31

Apr 5, 2025 at 3pm UK

Portman Road Stadium

Ipswich vs Wolves

Match preview

Ipswich went into Wednesday's clash with European chasing Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium as underdogs, but they stunned the Cherries to claim a 2-1 victory - only their fourth in the Premier League this season.

Goals on either side of half-time from Nathan Broadhead and Liam Delap secured three valuable points for the Tractor Boys, who moved to within nine points of safety with eight top-flight games remaining to avoid an immediate drop back to the Championship.

Head coach Kieran McKenna insists his players "still believe" they can pull off a miraculous escape, with this weekend's "big game" and "pressure game" against Wolves arguably their most important of the season.

Having beaten Wolves in the reverse fixture in December, Ipswich will be looking to complete their first league double against the Old Gold since the 1991-92 season, and their first in the top flight since 1983-84.

However, Ipswich's home form leaves much to be desired as they have lost 10 Premier League home games this season, including each of their last five - only once in their history have the Tractor Boys suffered six consecutive home defeats, between September and November 1963.

After beating Southampton 2-1 away from home before the international break, Wolves secured their third successive Premier League win of the season by beating West Ham United 1-0 at Molineux on Tuesday night.

Jorgen Strand Larsen's 21st-minute strike, his 10th league goal of the season, proved the match-winner for Wolves, who have now kept three clean sheets in seven home games under Vitor Pereira, as many as they had in their previous 20 league games at Molineux.

An "emotional" Pereira was full of praise for his Wolves side after their "quality" win over West Ham, and the passionate Portuguese believes the future is "bright" for a side who are now nine points clear of the relegation zone with eight games remaining.

The Old Gold are now bidding for a third successive Premier League away win, having previously beaten Southampton and Bournemouth, and they travel to Portman Road this weekend for their first league game since a 1-0 win in the Championship in January 2018.

Wolves head to Suffolk having won six of their last eight Premier League games against newly-promoted teams, with their only defeat coming in the reverse fixture against Ipswich in December. Birmingham City in 2009-10 are the only promoted side to have achieved the Premier League double over Wolves.

Recent Performance

Ipswich Town Premier League form:DLLLLW

Ipswich Town form (all competitions):LLLLLW

Wolverhampton Wanderers Premier League form:LWLDWW

Wolverhampton Wanderers form (all competitions):WLLDWW

Team News

Ipswich will be without Sammie Szmodics (ankle), Wes Burns (knee), Chiedozie Ogbene (calf) and Arijanet Muric (shoulder), while Omari Hutchinson (hamstring) and Leif Davis (leg) are both major doubts after missing the midweek win over Bournemouth.

Conor Townsend filled in for Davis at left-back and looks set to retain his place in the back four, while Ben Johnson could continue at right-back, although Jaden Philogene and Jack Clarke will both be pushing for recalls.

Kalvin Phillips will be hoping to force his way back into midfield ahead of either Sam Morsy or Jens Cajuste, while Broadhead and Delap - the latter of whom has now scored 11 Premier League goals this season - will both continue in the final third.

For Wolves, Sasa Kalajdzic, Enso Gonzalez, Yerson Mosquera and Leon Chiwone remain sidelined with knee injuries, while Rodrigo Gomes and Goncalo Guedes will be assessed before kick-off after missing the midweek win with "minor problems".

In-demand star Matheus Cunha will serve the final game of a four-match ban this weekend, so Strand Larsen will continue as a central striker, with Marshall Munetsi and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde potentially providing support in the final third.

Joao Gomes recently signed a new five-year contract extension and will continue to play in the centre of the park alongside fellow Brazilian Andre, while Matt Doherty, Emmanuel Agbadou and Toti Gomes are the trio most likely to start in the back three.

Possible starting lineup

Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:

Palmer; Tuanzebe, O'Shea, Burgess, Townsend; Morsy, Cajuste; Philogene, Broadhead, Enciso; Delap

Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:

Sa; Doherty, Agbadou, T. Gomes; Semedo, J. Gomes, Andre, Ait-Nouri; Munetsi, Bellegarde; Strand Larsen