The Championship’s early pace-setters collide at Portman Road on Saturday, as top-of-the-table Ipswich Town take on second-place Brighton and Hove Albion.
Both sides have started the 2015/16 campaign in exemplary fashion – with three wins and a draw from their opening four matches respectively – and they’ll each be hoping for more joy heading into the international break.
Managers Mick McCarthy and Chris Hughton are good friends off the pitch, but all that will be cast aside as their teams do battle for top spot.
Team News
Ipswich Town suffered a big blow on Friday, as it was confirmed that centre-back Christophe Berra would miss the visit of Brighton courtesy of a hamstring injury picked up in training.
The Scotland international will likely be out for around four weeks, giving teenager Josh Emmanuel the chance to line up at right-back once again.
Emmanuel started alongside Luke Chambers, Tommy Smith and Jonas Knudsen in the season-opener at Brentford, but Berra’s return from an initial suspension has forced him back to the sidelines.
Elsewhere, Teddy Bishop, Luke Hyam, Jonathan Parr and Daryl Murphy are all out for Saturday’s clash.
Kevin Bru is edging closer to a return to first-team action, although he’s unlikely to be in line to break up the central-midfield partnership of Cole Skuse and Jonathan Douglas just yet.
Striker David McGoldrick looks set to get the nod up front alongside Freddie Sears after a dynamic display against Doncaster Rovers in the Capital One Cup in midweek, while Brett Pitman could line up on the wing once again.
The former Bournemouth striker opened the scoring in the 2-1 victory over Preston North End last time out and was at the goals once again at the Keepmoat Stadium.
However, McCarthy could choose to field Arsenal loanee Ainsley Maitland-Niles from the start against Brighton, with one of McGoldrick or Pitman dropping to the bench.
As for Brighton, Hughton is likely to name an unchanged side to the one that beat Blackburn Rovers 1-0 at the AMEX Stadium last time around.
Danger man and goalscorer against Rovers Kazenga LuaLua will hope to torment the inexperienced Emmanuel on left flank, as he looks to add to his goal tally of three in all competitions so far.
Meanwhile the Seagulls boss will stick with Sam Baldock and new signing Tomer Hemed up front, having proved a handful in each of their Championship outings so far.
Hughton isn’t expecting an easy ride against the table-toppers, though, as he told the club’s official website:
“They have a very honest and committed team and Mick gets the very best out of them. I expect them to be as strong this season as they were last season. I expect that any game away at Ipswich would be a very difficult one.”
Odds (via William Hill)
Ipswich: 6/5
Draw: 21/10
Brighton: 5/2
Statistics
Ipswich Town have recorded 2-0 victories in each of their last two matches against Brighton and Hove Albion.
The Tractor Boys have scored exactly two goals in every one of their opening four Championship games.
Striker Sears has contributed to 11 goals in his last 12 matches for Ipswich – seven goals, four assists.
Ipswich have won three of their last four matches against Brighton home and away, keeping three clean sheets in the process.
Brighton are unbeaten in five league games for the first time since May 2014, when they went eight matches without tasting defeat.
Prediction
Ipswich Town come into Saturday’s match as favourites for a reason, as McCarthy has his side playing some exceptional football.
Brighton have got off to a great start, sure, but their back line will undoubtedly struggle against the likes of Fraser, McGoldrick and Sears.
The Tractor Boys have a habit of beating Brighton 2-0 at Portman Road, and it would be far from a surprise to see that scoreline once again as Ipswich cement their place at the top of the Championship tree.
