Ipswich vs Blackpool Predictions

Ipswich welcome Blackpool to Portman Road on Saturday afternoon, as they bid to go back top of the third division. The visitors will be looking to strengthen their top-six position.

Back at the start of the campaign, Ipswich were one of the teams tipped to do well by almost everyone with an eye on the third tier. Paul Lambert’s men haven’t disappointed. With a third of the season gone, the Tractor Boys sit three points behind the league leaders with two games in hand.

They may have tasted defeat when last in league action at this venue, but overall, Ipswich have been solid at home this term, losing only one out of six. They’ve only won three of the other five, which doesn’t exactly suggest that they’re unplayable, but Lambert’s men have delivered strong performances, which if maintained will likely seem them up there with the very best home performers come the end of the campaign.

However, despite looking good at Portman Road, Ipswich aren’t shoo-ins for this fixture. Blackpool have been very solid this term, which is why they currently occupy a position inside the top six. The Seasiders come into this fixture with League 1’s fifth-best away record. No team in the division has lost less away games than Simon Grayson’s men, who’ve lost just one out of eight on the road.

Blackpool haven’t been prolific winners on their travels, winning just two out of eight, but they’ve been tough to beat, drawing five of the other eight. Grayson’s side aren’t prolific, though they’ve done an excellent job of restricting teams, especially of late, as they’ve kept three clean sheets in their last four on the road, shipping just one goal.

Given their standing in the division and the fact that they’re one of the big boys, Ipswich will undoubtedly be a popular betting choice this weekend, though at the current prices, they look a tad short, particularly since they’re up against a sturdy Blackpool team that is anything but easy to score against let alone beat.

The bet that does stand out at the prices is ‘Both Teams to Score – NO’, which given the numbers, may just be a tad too big in early betting. Both teams have found the net in only half of Blackpool’s away games, as well as only half of Ipswich’s home games. Add in that the visitors have kept a clean sheet in three of their last four on the road, failing to score in two of them and a lack of goals at Portman Road seems plausible.

‘Correct Score’ bettors are pointed towards a 0-0 draw. Certainly not a glamorous option but given that both teams have kept plenty of clean sheets, coupled with the fact that each both teams have failed to score in two of their last three respective home and away games, a goalless draw stands out as a viable option. After all, the visitors been involved in three scoreless draws on the road this term.