The Prokit Stadium will witness the first-ever meeting between Ipswich Town and Brighton Hove Albion in the top-tier league since the last 40 years in Thursday’s fixture.
The two clubs have already played a draw 0-0 this season, and, more important, they have not faced each other on the ground of Ipswich in the first division since January 1983, when the home side won 2-0.
Ipswich’s Christmas has come alive at the moment as Kieran McKenna’s team is now on the verge of shrinking from the relegation zone.
They have scored four points and four goals in the last two Premier League matches which is as many goals they had scored in the previous seven games, thus getting to the same points as wolves in the 17th position.
Despite a 1-0 loss in the Boxing Day match day to Arsenal at the Emirates stadium, Ipswich proceeded to inflict a 2-0 loss on Chelsea at the Portman Road to end the year 2024, and they began the new year in a very promising fashion when they drew 0-0 away to Fulham in the first match of the new year.
Including this match, the Magpies would have won with a two-penalty lead at Craven Cottage, but Raul Jimenez scored a stunning injury-time equalizer after Liam Delap scored a second goal for the team.
Those four points have put the Tractor Boys above Leicester City and dragged Everton back into the danger zone, just one point in front of them.
McKenna’s side has not only been organized but frank in the new campaign; They have created 6.1 shots per game from the open play but score a goal per game on average so far.
Early in the season, their home form had been a major worry, but on Sunday, they defeated Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup after winning their first game against Chelsea on the tenth try.
The hosts' next opponent is Brighton, who have been the Premier League's draw experts this year and were only able to secure a 0-0 tie in this match back in September.
The Seagulls have seen an increase in draws in recent weeks, as seen by the fact that all four of their league games have ended in draws.
While offensive combination Georginio Rutter and Yankuba Minteh will be evaluated before to the game following minor injuries sustained against Norwich, defensive pairing Lewis Dunk and Tariq Lamptey should be able to return here following their separate knocks and illnesses.
Sammie Szmodics has opened the score four times this season and scored some significant goals for Ipswich, but he will be out of action as McKenna has revealed that his foot is currently in a protective boot to assist treat an ankle injury.
