The Championship automatic promotion race took another turn in midweek, with all three teams failing to win. Ipswich begin the weekend in 2nd, tied on points with Leicester at the top, but with Leicester playing on Friday, that could be all change by the time they play here. They welcome Middlesbrough to Portman Road for this one, a side who probably saw their playoff hopes come to an end in midweek.
Ipswich Form GuideYou can tell the pressure is getting to the top three, they're faultering and Ipswich come here on the back of two games without a win. Tied with Leicester at the top, but Leicester have a game in hand, and one point ahead of Leeds in 3rd, that's how it looks now, but that will change depending on Leicester's Friday night result.
It was a 0-0 home draw for Ipswich in midweek with Watford, a game they were fancied to win, but just couldn't get the job done. Last weekend, they lost 1-0 against Norwich, their fierce rivals, so it's not been the best of weeks for them. But with four games to go, it's all to play for, Ipswich control their own destiny in terms of the automatic spots, and a win here would give them a timely lift.
Middlesbrough Form GuideIt was only an outside chance that Middlesbrough had of the playoffs, but I'm certain that's gone now. Six points off Norwich with four to play, it seems a little too much for them to clay back, and with other teams around them, it's not just Norwich they need to slow down, it's others too and I don't think that will happen.
Fair play to Boro though as they have given this a big push. They arrive here on an eight game unbeaten run, with five wins and three draws in that period. But the draw in midweek was the one that's cost them. They drew 2-2 away at Hull on Wednesday night, a game they really needed to win to have any playoff chance.
Match PredictionI think Boro will be knocked by their draw in midweek, they know it's pretty much over, and for that reason, I don't think they'll come here in the same form we've seen from them recently. For that reason, despite feeling the pressure at the moment, I will take Ipswich to win this one.