Ipswich Town resume their fight for Premier League survival with a home game against Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday night.
The 18th-placed Tractor Boys boosted their bid to beat the drop over the festive period with a maiden home win of the season against Chelsea.
Kieran McKenna’s men then battled their way to a 2-2 draw away at Fulham, in a game that brought up two of my three Craven Cottage selections.
Ipswich have since brushed Bristol City aside 3-0 in the FA Cup, so they will look to keep the feelgood factor flowing ahead of their latest home game with Brighton.
The Seagulls started the week in 10th position in the table following a run of four straight draws in the Premier League, the most recent of which came against Arsenal.
Like Ipswich, Fabian Hurzeler’s side also saw off lower league opposition in the FA Cup at the weekend, claiming a 4-0 win over Norwich at Carrow Road.
How the bookies view it: Seagulls to be too strong
Despite failing to win each of their last eight Premier League matches, Brighton are odds-on 10/11 favourites with Boylesports to pocket all three points at Portman Road.
A fifth successive Premier League stalemate on the spin involving Brighton can be backed at 13/5 on Boylesports.
Ipswich are as big as 11/4 (Boylesports) to make it back-to-back home wins in the Premier League.
Head to head: Another stalemate in store?
Each of the last four meetings between the pair have ended all square, including this season’s reverse fixture at the Amex which ended 0-0. Another goalless game between the duo on Thursday night has been priced up at 11/1 on Boylesports.
Players to watch: Delap to do more damage?
Liam Delap has scored eight goals across his 19 Premier League appearances for Ipswich this season, striking in each of his last two top-flight outings. Thus, the Tractor Boys forward stands out to notch anytime here at 2/1 on Boylesports.
Georginio Rutter scored twice during Brighton's aforementioned 4-0 win over Norwich on Saturday. The Seagulls forward is 9/4 (Boylesports) to make the net bulge at Portman Road.
Predicted line-ups
Ipswich manager McKenna looks set to be without the likes of Axel Tuanzebe, Chiedozie Ogbene, Conor Chaplin, Omari Hutchinson and Sammie Szmodics.
Brighton attacker Joao Pedro is struggling with an ankle issue, so experienced forward Danny Welbeck could come back into the Albion starting XI on Thursday night.
Ipswich: Muric; O'Shea, Greaves, Woolfenden, Davis; Morsy, Cajuste; Burns, Hutchinson, Clarke; Delap
Brighton & Hove Albion: Verbruggen, Lamptey, Dunk, Van Hecke, Estupinan, Ayari, Baleba, Minteh, Enciso, Rutter, Welbeck.
Anything else catch the eye?
Given Ipswich Town's marked improvement of late, I’m more than happy to back the home team to avoid defeat here at 20/23 on Boylesports.
As already mentioned, The Tractor Boys took four points from their recent Premier League games with both Chelsea and Fulham, so they will head into this game in high spirits.
Brighton, on the other hand, are winless in eight league games and have triumphed in just two of their last nine top-flight road trips.
This English Premier League match between Ipswich Town and Brighton & Hove Albion will be played on Jan 16, 2025 and kick off at 19:30. Check below for our tipsters best Ipswich Town vs Brighton & Hove Albion prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.