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In the aftermath of a dramatic encounter between Ipswich Town and Leicester City on Boxing Day, speculation about the impending clash between Ipswich and Queens Park Rangers (QPR) is rife. The closely contested match against Leicester saw Ipswich salvage a late point, courtesy of a Sam Morsy strike that deflected off Jannik Vestergaard. Despite Southampton’s 5-0 victory over Swansea City earlier in the day, Ipswich managed to maintain a five-point lead at the top of the Championship table. However, their recent crushing defeat at the hands of Leeds United has tightened the competition.
As Ipswich gears up for a Friday night showdown against QPR at Portman Road, Sky Sports presenter and former EFL midfielder David Prutton has weighed in with his predictions. Despite acknowledging Ipswich’s recent challenges, Prutton is optimistic about their prospects against QPR, a team that has experienced a downturn after an initially promising start under manager Marti Cifuentes.
“Ipswich may have seen the gap close again from below, but the way they took a point off Leicester will feel like a win,” Prutton wrote in his Sky Sports predictions column. “The QPR bubble may have burst a little. Just one point from their last three games, all against sides they would be hoping to beat. There is a gap again to the sides outside the bottom three. And it could get bigger because Ipswich should win this. 2-1.”
Prutton’s prediction revolves around the recent struggles of QPR, who have failed to secure a victory in their last four outings, including two losses to relegation rivals Millwall and Sheffield on Wednesday. This downturn in form has raised questions about QPR’s ability to pose a significant challenge to Ipswich, especially in the wake of their own resilience against Leicester.
However, Ipswich will face challenges of their own with key absences in their lineup. Sam Morsy, a pivotal player who secured the late equalizer against Leicester, will be unavailable due to suspension. The FA charged Morsy with a breach of rule E3.1 following a match against Middlesbrough earlier in the month, relating to improper behavior and/or abuse of a match official. Additionally, Ipswich will miss the services of striker George Hirst, who sustained a hamstring injury against Leicester.
On the other hand, QPR might see the return of midfielder Jack Colback, who has been sidelined since early December due to a muscle injury. Despite this potential boost, Cifuentes will need to address the team’s recent struggles to reignite their earlier momentum.
As the stage is set for an intriguing clash between Ipswich and QPR, both teams will be aiming to make a statement and influence their positions in the championship standings. The outcome of this match will likely have repercussions for the teams involved as they navigate the competitive landscape of the league.
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