Wolverhampton Wanderers welcome Ipswich Town to Molineux for a Premier League contest on Sunday afternoon between two teams struggling at the wrong end of the table.

Match preview

Wolves head coach Gary O'Neil was hoping that his side could build on their four-game winless run between October 26 and November 23 during which they accumulated eight points, beating Southampton (2-0) and Fulham (4-1) in the process.

However, the Old Gold have suffered three disappointing defeats in a row within the space of nine days, most recently losing 2-1 away against fellow strugglers West Ham United on Monday. Matt Doherty equalised in the 69th minute, but parity was short-lived as Jarrod Bowen netted what proved to be the match-winner just three minutes later.

Defeat at the London Stadium represented Wolves' 10th of the season after 15 Premier League games, and although they are four points adrift of safety, under-fire boss O'Neil has received the public support of chairman Jeff Shi.

Wolves' defensive frailties have been exposed throughout this season and no Premier League team conceded more goals than the Old Gold (38) thus far. On home soil, they have shipped 34 goals in 16 league games in 2024, and not since 2012 (47 in 23 games) have they conceded as many goals at Molineux in a calendar year.

Saturday's contest will be Wolves' first Premier League meeting against Ipswich and there is reason for O'Neil's men to be optimistic of success, as they are unbeaten in their last seven encounters with the Tractor Boys, keeping a clean sheet in each of their last five.

Since claiming their first and only victory of the season to date away against Tottenham Hotspur (2-1) in the middle of November, Ipswich have failed to win each of their last four matches, most recently losing 2-1 at home to Bournemouth in dramatic fashion.

The Tractor Boys were seemingly on course to secure their first top-flight victory of the season at Portman Road, as they entered the final three minutes plus stoppage time a goal ahead thanks to Conor Chaplin. However, Enes Unal's 87th-minute equaliser was followed by a 95th-minute winner from another Cherries substitute in Dango Ouattara.

No Premier League team have dropped more points from winning positions than Ipswich (15) so far this season, and Kieran McKenna's dressing room was left "devastated" after coming away empty handed from a game they "deserved more from" following a spirited display.

Not even a win over Wolves on Saturday would see Ipswich climb out of the relegation zone, but it would certainly boost their survival hopes and morale ahead of a challenging run of festive fixtures against Newcastle, Arsenal, Chelsea and Fulham.

Ipswich travel to the West Midlands having won six of their last seven top-flight meetings with Wolves, but they have only come out on top in one of their last 16 away league visits to Molineux - a 2-0 Championship success in December 2012.

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