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Ipswich Town Next Up for High Flying Villa

By Jonathan Northall

IPSWICH, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Martyn Waghorn of Ipswich Town shoots at goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Ipswich Town and Norwich City at Portman Road on October 22, 2017 in Ipswich, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
IPSWICH, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Martyn Waghorn of Ipswich Town shoots at goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Ipswich Town and Norwich City at Portman Road on October 22, 2017 in Ipswich, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images) /
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Ipswich Town are next up as Aston Villa’s promotion challenge continues Saturday afternoon. Steve Bruce’s men will eye another home victory to compliment Tuesday night’s hard-earned victory against Sunderland. Villa will be without John Terry, Scott Hogan as well as long-term injury victim Jonathan Kodjia. The Tractor Boys, currently in ninth place, are coming off the back of a home draw against Sheffield Wednesday.

Villa go into the game full of confidence. Villa have lost once at Villa Park this season against Ipswich’s midweek opponents, Sheffield Wednesday. Villa are likely to be unchanged with youngster Keinan Davis starting up front whilst Robert Snodgrass and top scorer Albert Adomah adding width and attacking intent. Adomah’s goals have helped Villa to carry Villa up the table and the player will be a handful for the Ipswich Town defence. Christopher Samba will carry on in central defence, for Villa, in John Terry’s absence.

Next: “Devastating” Kodjia Injury Update

The strength of Ipswich Town is in their goal-scoring ability. They have scored 30 goals this season and top scorer Martyn Waghorn has tallied nine so far. He scored again in midweek in the 2-2 draw against Wednesday. A last-minute equaliser robbed Ipswich of victory, but it is very much in keeping with their inability to keep teams out. Villa’s wide play and intricate passing should unlock the Ipswich defence regularly. Villa’s current form is such that they should constantly pose problems and keep goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski busy at Villa Park.

In his pre-match press conference, Steve Bruce was foreseeing a tough game and likened Ipswich Town to their manager, Mick McCarthy.  Bruce called them “tough” and “organised” whilst highlighting front men Waghorn and Joe Garner as threats.  He was pleased that Villa were “making progress” but mindful of the current injury situation.

The last time Villa entertained Ipswich Town, it was the visitors who took all three points with a 1-0 win.  Welsh international Emyr Huws scored, from a breakaway, with seven minutes to go as Villa couldn’t make one of their 22 shots on goal count.  Despite Villa having plenty of good scoring chances from set pieces, it was Ipswich who made one of their opportunities count.

WHEN: Saturday, November 25, 2017 @ 3pm GMT / 10am EST

WHERE: Villa Park

PREDICTION: 2-0 Aston Villa victory

Villa should have too much for Ipswich Town to handle and run out comfortable victors.  The pace and width of Villa will create scoring opportunities and current form suggests that we have players just waiting to take convert them.

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