Ipswich vs Southampton Preview – Championship 2025-26 | Form, Injuries, Lineups & Prediction
Ipswich host fellow-relegated side Southampton in a clash involving two teams many believe will be battling for the Championship title. Will Still’s Saints are unbeaten in their opening two competitive games and aiming to extend that run, while Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich, having scraped a draw against Birmingham before losing to Bromley, will be hoping this fixture can spark their season into life.
Current Form
After a feisty Championship opener against Birmingham City, which saw the Tractor Boys scrape a late equaliser, Ipswich were held to another 1-1 draw in the EFL Cup by Bromley before suffering penalty shootout heartbreak. McKenna’s men endured an unexpected exit at the hands of their League Two opponents. However, some may argue that an early cup elimination removes a potential distraction from their promotion push.
Southampton’s opener against newly-promoted Wrexham almost ended in disaster as Josh Windass’s penalty seemed to be the deciding goal, until Ryan Manning’s sublime free kick and Jack Stephens’s 96th-minute winner completely turned the tide for Will Still’s men. Pushed all the way by their visitors, the Saints still racked up 4.1 expected goals alongside 76% possession before following up with a narrow 1-0 EFL Cup win over Northampton Town.
Current Form:
Ipswich Town: Slightly concerning — Dominated against Birmingham but lacked the cutting edge. However, the Tractor Boys are still one of, if not, the best squad in the league. Kieran McKenna’s squad just needs time to settle.
Southampton: The Saints looked promising in their first two games. It was important to gain the sense of winning after the disastrous last season. They still lack goals. The saints also still retain old, slow possession habits although they have looked faster and with more urgency when attacking
Head-to-Head Form
This upcoming fixture will be the 76th meeting between the clubs, with Ipswich edging the head-to-head 27 wins to Southampton’s 24. When the Saints dropped down from the Premier League and Ipswich came up from League One in 2023, it marked their first clash in eight years. The Tractor Boys did the double over Southampton in 2023/24, but the Saints hit back last season, going unbeaten with a win and a draw.
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Injury News & Absences
Ipswich: Harry Clarke, Conor Townsend and Wes Burns remain sidelined. Jens Cajuste and Chuba Akpom are short of full fitness after disrupted pre-seasons and may only play limited roles if involved, while Azor Matusiwa and Jaden Philogene are expected to be in contention pending late assessments.
Southampton: Will Smallbone and James Bree are still injured, while Tyler Dibling has returned to training and could be in contention depending on fitness. Both Charlie Taylor and Taylor Harwood-Bellis are back with the group after recent absences, though Will Still may manage their minutes. Welington and Josh Quarshie, who rested in midweek to manage workload, are available again.
Injury Summary Table
| Team | Player | Reason | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ipswich | Harry Clarke | Knee Injury | Out |
| Conor Townsend | ACL Injury | Out | |
| Wes Burns | ACL Injury | Out | |
| Jens Cajuste | Fitness Doubts | Doubtful | |
| Chuba Akpom | Fitness Doubts | Doubtful | |
| Southampton | Will Smallbone | Calf Injury | Out |
| James Bree | Leg Injury | Out | |
| Tyler Dibling | Fitness Doubts | Doubtful |
Manager Quotes
Will Still is wary of Ipswich’s quality, saying: “They’ve got a lot of individual quality, but there’s also a collective that’s well-structured, well-oiled… We’ll have to be very good to win.”
Meanwhile, Kieran McKenna urged full focus from both players and fans: “If our focus isn’t 100% on the task at hand, then we’re going to come up short… If they [the fans] can bring that top, top support that we’ve had there over the years, it’d be a big, big help for the group and give us a much better chance of getting the result that we want.”
Predicted Lineups
Ipswich (likely 4-2-3-1): Palmer; Johnson, O’Shea, Greaves, Davis; Ogbene, Matusiwa; Taylor, Szmodics, Clarke; Hirst
Southampton (likely 3-4-3): Bazunu; Quarshie, Stephens, Edwards; Manning, Fernandes, Charles, Sugawara; Robinson, Archer, Fraser
Predicted Scoreline
Ipswich 1-2 Southampton —A fixture that could go either way, but the Saints have looked promising in their first two wins and will be hoping to capitalise on that momentum against Ipswich, who are still finding their rhythm after the opening fixtures.
Where to Watch
Kick-off: Sunday 12pm BST (UK) — Broadcast live on Sky Sports Football; highlights available via English Football League Highlights (ITV). International: Check local broadcasters or streaming services.
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