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After a difficult first four games of the season for Ipswich Town, they showed their strength last Friday as they welcomed Sheffield United to Portman Road.
Kieran McKenna’s side ran out 5-0 winners against the Blades, a result that ultimately cost Ruben Selles his job and now Blackburn Rovers are preparing to welcome them to Ewood Park.
The Tractor Boys have the better record in this fixture, but Sammie Szmodics still has a lot of love for the Lancashire outfit and there are a number of stories to be written in this fixture this weekend.
EFL Analysis has backed Ipswich to pick up the victory over Blackburn, and Valerien Ismael’s side have not been favoured by two Championship experts either.
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Benjamin Bloom and Sam Parkin back Ipswich Town to beat Blackburn Rovers
The two sides last met in 2024, with the Tractor Boys running out 1-0 winners at Ewood Park, and while they have had a slower start to this campaign, it looks as though they will have too much strength for Blackburn to contend with.
Therefore, it may not come as a surprise to see Sam Parkin side with Ipswich ahead of Saturday. Speaking to Benjamin Bloom, he said: “[This is] tough. I think Blackburn’s performances have been okay, they had a really good win the other day. But, Ipswich clearly flexed their muscles.
“I’ll flip that previous result [QPR 2-1 Stoke City], and I’ll go 2-1 away win.”
In agreement, Bloom told Parkin: “Well this is going to turn out nasty, because I’m also going to back Ipswich. Now, I agree with McKenna, I don’t think it’s just messaging, for this group, the season started after the international break.
“We do this a lot with parachute teams, Sam. The five subs that Ipswich brought on if you were the opposition seeing that lot come off the bench, I know Sheffield United are a parachute team as well. I quite like the 2-1, so I’ll take a 2-0. Blackburn 0-2 Ipswich, and hopefully the start of a winning run.”
This could be the start of the Tractor Boys’ promotion push
After a difficult August, McKenna looked as though he needed the international break to regroup and get his ideas back across to his players.
They are not the only relegated team to have struggled in the opening weeks of the season, with Will Still under pressure from some Southampton fans following a 0-0 draw against bitter rivals Portsmouth last Sunday.
Nonetheless, Ipswich were excellent against Sheffield United in the second half, and the quality that they have within their squad makes them a threat against any side in the division.
George Hirst is now firing, while Jaden Philogene was in inspired form against the Blades. Blackburn do have their own strengths, and Todd Cantwell will be vital, but their inconsistency may come back to haunt them.