In a thrilling EFL Cup clash, Ipswich Town is looking to continue their impressive run by taking on Fulham at Portman Road in the fourth round.
Match Preview
Ipswich already made a name for themselves by defeating Wolverhampton Wanderers in the previous round with a spectacular 3-2 victory, while Fulham managed to secure a 2-1 win against Norwich City.
Ipswich Town has been unstoppable in the 2023-24 EFL Cup. Bristol Rovers and Reading couldn’t halt their progress in the first two rounds.
Still, the real test came when they faced Wolverhampton Wanderers. Hwang Hee-chan and Toti gave Gary O’Neil’s team a 2-0 lead on September 26, but Ipswich, a team poised for a Premier League promotion, had different plans.
Chelsea loanee Omari Hutchinson and Freddie Ladapo orchestrated an incredible comeback, with Jack Taylor sealing the deal.
This incredible fightback propelled Ipswich Town into the EFL Cup’s last 16, marking their first appearance at this stage since their memorable semi-final run in 2010-11.
During that memorable run, they even managed to outperform Arsenal in the first leg before falling 3-1 on aggregate.
Ipswich’s recent form in the Championship has been equally impressive. They secured a 3-2 victory against Plymouth Argyle, a team that denied them the League One title last season.
Ipswich has clinched victory in their last four Championship matches and boasts an impressive 14 wins out of 16 games this season, with only two exceptions – a 4-3 loss to Leeds United and a 1-1 draw with Huddersfield Town.
This puts Ipswich Town just behind Leicester City in the second-tier rankings, with a game in hand. Their clash with Fulham could be seen as a warm-up for upcoming top-flight encounters.
Two months ago, Fulham made headlines by defeating Tottenham Hotspur in a penalty shootout during the EFL Cup’s second round.
This achievement made them the only team to beat Ange Postecoglou’s Premier League leaders in a competitive fixture.
In the third round against Norwich, Fulham didn’t need a shootout to secure a win.
Goals from Alex Iwobi and Carlos Vinicius, followed by a late goal from Carlos Sainz, earned Fulham a spot in the last 16 for the third time in nine seasons.
Fulham has faced heartbreak in their last two appearances at this stage of the tournament, losing 2-0 to Manchester City in 2018-19 and suffering a 3-0 defeat to Brentford in 2020-21.
However, they enter Wednesday’s game following a commendable 1-1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion, extending their unbeaten Premier League run against the Europa League contenders.
Fulham’s recent away form may raise concerns, as they remain winless in five successive away matches, alternating between draws and losses.
Nevertheless, they have a promising history against Ipswich Town, having won their last five encounters, most recently a 1-0 victory in a 2020-21 EFL Cup second-round match, courtesy of a goal from Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Team News
Ipswich midfielder Lee Evans is suspended for the upcoming clash, having received his second booking of the tournament during the win against Wolves.
Unfortunately, he recently underwent a knee operation and faces months on the sidelines.
Elkan Baggott is also nursing a back problem, but Freddie Ladapo and Axel Tuanzebe have recovered from their knocks, making them potential options for the bench.
Fulham’s Carlos Vinicius, who missed their previous match, is expected to return, as his absence was not due to a serious injury.
Adama Traore (thigh) and Kenny Tete (unspecified) are progressing in their recoveries and may be part of the squad.
However, Issa Diop (foot) and Tosin Adarabioyo (groin) will not feature in this match.
Bernd Leno is likely to make way for Marek Rodak in goal, and Tom Cairney and Sasa Lukic could provide a different midfield presence.
Possible Starting Lineups:
Ipswich Town:
- Hladky;
- Clarke, Woolfenden, Edmundson, Williams;
- Morsy, Taylor;
- Harness, Hutchinson, Ladapo;
- Hirst
Fulham:
- Rodak;
- Castagne, Bassey, Ream, Ballo-Toure;
- Cairney, Palhinha, Pereira;
- Willian, Jimenez, Iwobi
Prediction:
This exciting clash is difficult to predict. Ipswich Town’s recent form at Portman Road, scoring at least three goals in their last six home games, indicates they are a formidable force.
However, their defensive vulnerabilities may provide Fulham with opportunities to score.
This match may not be settled in 90 minutes, and penalties could decide the outcome. Fulham, with their big-game experience, could edge Ipswich Town in a penalty shootout.
- Our prediction: Ipswich Town 2-2 Fulham