As Ipswich Town chase the dream of Premier League football again, a handful of decisive fixtures stand between them and promotion glory, games that could define not just their season, but the club’s future. Here, we will take a deep dive into what fixtures and months will be important for Ipswich.
With points now carrying extra weight due to Kieran McKenna’s side being promotion favourites, the fixtures against direct promotion rivals and potential banana skins against teams in the relegation area are crucial.
Whether it’s a gritty away day on a Tuesday night or a Saturday game at Portman Road, all these matches are a test for Ipswich’s resilience and ambition to get promoted back to the Premier League. Navigating this gauntlet unscathed could be the difference between celebration and heartbreak come season’s end.
A Good Start to the Season
A good start for Kieran McKenna and Ipswich will determined how the season goes so fixtures versus Birmingham, Southampton, Preston North End, Derby County and Sheffield United will be key fixtures to kick off the season and have the good start like they did back in the EFL Championship during the 2023/24 season.
This was a good start due to the fact that the Tractor Boys won several of their first league games. This must be replicated to achieve the ambition task of getting promoted back to the Premier League.
Town also need to have good form back at Portman Road this season as well because last season, they didn’t pick up many points at home. Therefore, it is crucial Ipswich are able pick up points and wins at Portman Road earlier on in the season to turn the stadium back to a place where away teams are frightened to come to.
Furthermore, Town must also bring back that pivotal atmosphere that was missed last season. Therefore, the first fixtures at home versus Southampton, Derby County and Sheffield United will be important to bring fans on their side.
But, we can’t downplay the fact that away form will be important as home form, so the first few away fixtures versus Birmingham, Preston North End, Blackburn Rovers and Bristol City will also be important for Town to make a stamp in the league.
Other important fixtures for Ipswich this season are the East Anglian Derby games vs Norwich, with the home fixture coming earlier in the season, being the 5th home game on the 4th of October, while the away game is on the 11th of April, as things stand.
These are two games that Ipswich would desperately need to win to end the 16-year wait to beat Norwich City. Will that come this season? Who knows? Furthermore, the Easter Weekend Fixtures Vs Southampton away on Good Friday and Birmingham City at home on Easter Monday are also crucial.
Festive Fine Margins: Evaluating Ipswich’s Season-Defining December
The Christmas period of fixtures can sometimes define seasons for teams, and especially could damage the opportunity of getting promoted. Back in the 2023/24 season, Ipswich didn’t do so well over their set of Christmas fixtures, so this season’s fixtures versus Sheffield Wednesday, Millwall, Coventry City and Oxford United at home will be essential. This is important so the team can maintain the ambitious task of gaining automatic promotion back to the Premier League at the first chance back.
So, with 2 home games and 2 away games, it’s a tough Christmas period, but one that Ipswich will have to endure as they know they have to endure it to achieve the ultimate goal of promotion back to where they belong.
Run-In Reality Check: Where Ipswich Must Deliver Down the Stretch
The run-in could be crucial for the race for promotion, which proved a massive statement for Ipswich in their last promotion winning campaign. Something to point out is that Ipswich were in the EFL Championship promotion battle during the run-in of the 2023/24 season. This is something Town should aim to replicate. However, games against tougher teams show that this time is going to be much harder this season.
This is because the Tractor Boys have to play fixtures against teams like Swansea City, Leicester City and Sheffield Wednesday. As well as this, the final few games vs Charlton (22 April), West Bromwich Albion (25 April) and a home game to round off the season on the 2nd of May vs QPR are tough on paper but will be key for Ipswich in the run-in to get that all-important automatic spot to the Premier League.
Overall, if Ipswich are to transform a season of promise into one of triumph, navigating both the festive grind and the final stretch with precision will be essential. From pivotal head-to-head clashes to potential slip-ups against lower-ranked opponents, every fixture now becomes a test of nerve, depth, and consistency. Promotion isn’t handed out for early promise—it’s earned in the pressure-cooker moments when margins are slim and the stakes are at their peak.
Love it – these fixtures are going to be crucial in Ipswich’s season!