Sabasports Match Preview
Premier League: Brentford vs Ipswich Town
Kickoff Time: 2024-10-26 22:00 (HKT)
Source:REUTERS/Molly Darlington
Brentford has had a relatively stable season so far, with a record of three wins, one draw, and four losses. The four defeats came against Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, and Manchester United. Clearly, it has been difficult for them to secure points against stronger opponents, but this does not mean that Brentford is content with the current status. Over the past two seasons, Brentford has been strengthening its resilience in defense and midfield. The team’s tactical approach is not conservative; they have a diverse range of attacking methods, posing threats through both wing breakthroughs and central penetrations. In terms of specific tactics, Brentford excels at crowding the midfield and employing sporadic high-press strategies to block opponents’ passes, effectively limiting their attacks. They rely on efficient counterattacks and precise passing to create shooting opportunities for themselves. Additionally, Brentford is adept at launching quick strikes. In the last five league matches, they scored in the first two minutes of four games. This rapid scoring not only gives the team a numerical advantage but also places significant psychological pressure on their opponents.
Ipswich Town is a newly promoted team that has yet to secure a victory this season, indicating that they are still struggling to adapt to the pace of Premier League. Over the past two seasons, under Kieran McKenna’s leadership, Ipswich has made a leap from League One to the Premier League. The 38-year-old young coach has gained some recognition, but he lacks experience in managing a team in the Premier League. The team’s tactical highlights are insufficient, primarily focusing on defense and counterattacks. They adopt a relatively compact defensive formation when defending and look for scoring opportunities through quick counterattacks and set-piece tactics when attacking. Currently, the highest-valued player in the squad is Kalvin Phillips, whose passing ability is decent and can play a role in organizing attacks, but he lacks creativity. The defensive players have relatively weak defensive capabilities and are prone to mistakes when pressured by opponents. Goalkeeper Arijanet Muric has had a standard performance; he can make some routine saves but often struggles with high-difficulty shots, watching the ball go into the net. Due to poor performances on both ends, Ipswich has become a strong candidate for relegation.
Brentford remains unbeaten at home this season, while Ipswich has yet to win a match. There is a clear morale gap between the two sides. With the support of home fans, Brentford players will likely gain confidence and believe they can showcase their tactical characteristics to secure valuable three points against Ipswich.
Brentford’s Last 5 Games: LWDLW
24-10-19 Manchester United 2-1 Brentford
24-10-05 Brentford 5-3 Wolves
24-09-28 Brentford 1-1 West Ham United
24-09-21 Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Brentford
24-09-18 Brentford 3-1 Leyton Orient
Ipswich Town’s Last 5 Games: LLDDD
24-10-19 Ipswich Town 0-2 Everton
24-10-05 West Ham United 4-1 Ipswich Town
24-09-29 Ipswich Town 2-2 Aston Villa
24-09-21 Southampton 1-1 Ipswich Town
24-09-14 Brighton 0-0 Ipswich Town
Head To Head Record:
19-04-11 Brentford 2-0 Ipswich Town
18-09-19 Ipswich Town 1-1 Brentford
18-04-07 Brentford 1-0 Ipswich Town
17-08-19 Ipswich Town 2-0 Brentford
17-03-04 Ipswich Town 1-1 Brentford
Prediction: Brentford to win