The opposition
Ipswich Town will be hoping to respond to Tuesday’s disappointing 3-0 defeat at home to Charlton by beating the Baggies on Saturday lunchtime.
Town were downed by three second-half strikes in Suffolk, with all three goals coming in a 12-minute period at Portman Road.
It was their second consecutive defeat having also lost at high-flying Middlesbrough last Friday night, results which have left them 11 points adrift of the top two in the second tier.
This weekend’s hosts will be targeting an instant return to the top flight following their relegation from the Premier League in 2024/25, but the Tractor Boys, managed by Kieran McKenna, will be well aware of the need to start recording consistent victories if they’re to close the gap to the early pace-setters in the Sky Bet Championship.
McKenna, 39, was appointed in December 2021 and guided Ipswich to back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League in 2022/23 and 2023/24. The former Manchester United coach has managed 185 Town fixtures, winning 84, drawing 54 and losing 47.
He has several ex-Albion players in his squad – six in total. Goalkeepers Alex Palmer and David Button, as well as defenders Dara O’Shea, Darnell Furlong, Conor Townsend and Cedric Kipre are all part of McKenna’s senior group.
