Leeds vs Ipswich Town Prediction & Betting Tips - Championship

Prediction published on 22/12/2023, 23:11  by Steve Ashfield in Championship Predictions

This is the match of the weekend in the Championship. Third placed Leeds United host Ipswich Town who are second in the table. Only the top two win automatic promotion and Leeds begin this game ten points behind their opponents. The Whites certainly can't afford to lose this match. Doing so would make it incredibly different to finish in the top two and have to rely on the play-offs if wanting to make an immediate return to the Premier League. United didn't make the best of starts to life back in the Championship but a form guide for the last 15 league fixtures has them only a couple of points behind Ipswich. Leeds are yet to lose a home league game this season with seven wins and four draws. That slow start saw their first three league games at Elland Road all drawn. They then won seven in a row before drawing 1-1 with Coventry City. United won the reverse fixture 4-3 at Ipswich Town and really needed to complete the double over their rivals.

Ipswich Town are bidding to win promotion for the second successive season. They only trail leaders Leicester City by three points after 22 games of the season. Avoiding defeat at Leeds would maintain a good lead but winning would make it a very merry Christmas indeed for the Tractor Boys. Ipswich had a slight dip in form last month but came into this game having won four successive league games before drawing 2-2 at home to local rivals Norwich City last weekend after trailing 2-1. Both teams have scored in all but two of their last ten league fixtures. On the road, Ipswich have won seven out of 11 league fixtures with only one loss at West Bromwich Albion. Since that loss they've won at both Middlesbrough and Watford. We go for both teams to score in this match.