Football
Ipswich Town vs Bournemouth Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction
Bournemouth travel to Ipswich on Sunday the 8th of December. The Cherries will know that their opponent will make life difficult, but they will still be looking to come away with maximum points. This is a tough game to call, both sides will have reason to believe they can this and usually that translates into opportunities to make good money… SportsBoom unpacks this encounter and offers the latest insights, betting odds, tips and our prediction for Ipswich Town vs Bournemouth. There is value galore, so make sure you get your bets on early. Don’t forget to claim your free football bets off Betway, Bet365 and more!
Evanilson of Bournemouth celebrating with Justin Kluivert, Milos Kerkez and Antoine Semenyo//Getty Images
Pre-game odds and win probability – Cherries Firm Favourites
Home: 2/1 (3.0) – 32%
Draw: 47/20 (3.35) – 25%
Away: 12/10 (2.2) – 43%
Head-To-Head Record
Last four meetings (Premier League)
03/04/2015: Ipswich 2–2 Bournemouth
22/11/2014: Bournemouth 1–1 Ipswich
21/04/2014: Ipswich 2–2 Bournemouth
29/12/2013: Bournemouth 1–1 Ipswich
Ipswich Current Form – LDWDL
It is probably fair to say that outside of the draw with Manchester United, Ipswich have not had too much to celebrate in the League this year. This Ipswich side have been really impressive to watch, now before you think we are losing our minds hear us out! Ipswich have some really good players and play fluid football from back to front.
They have an incredible manager in Kieran McKenna, the 38-year-old has shown time and again that he will not be fearful of insofar as wanting to see his approach enacted on the field. His bravery and uncompromising belief in his players and their system has seen Ipswich play glorious football at times – they have just failed to make it count.
Key Players to Watch
- Leif Davis: Playing at left-back for Ipswich, Davis might not have hit the heights he managed in the championship last season, but his hunger for attacking opportunities and eagerness to get his side up the field should never be underestimated.
- Sam Morsy: Ipswich’s leader in the midfield continues to show that grit and immense physicality have a place in the modern game. Playing a massive role in the side since the arrival of McKenna, Morsy has continued to bring calm, aggressive leadership the centre of the Ipswich side.
- Liam Delap: Since Ipswich paid the 17.85 million euros for Delap, he has now attracted attention from clubs all over the League. He hasn’t been as prolific in front of goal this season, but to be fair to him, Ipswich have really struggled to create big scoring moments.
Ipswich Team News
Ipswich are likely to be without Ben Johnson, Chiedozie Ogbene, George Hirst and Janoi Donacien for this match.
Bournemouth Current Form – WLLWW
As much as Bournemouth have never beaten Ipswich, those results should be taken within context. The Cherries have struggled defensively at times, but with the number of chances they create going forward, it’s no surprise to see them score with the fluidity they have.
They were desperately unlucky against Brighton (possibly even Brentford) but seemingly got every known ounce of luck against Wolves! For the first time in history a hattrick of penalties was won by the same player!
If the Cherries can find even a semblance of defensive ability they can begin to earn really positive points in the league…until then, it really is always a hit and miss with them.
Key Players to Watch
- Antoine Semenyo: Although he was asked to serve a suspension for that 4-2 win over Wolves, Semenyo has proven incredibly value for Andoni Iraola. Scoring four goals in his 12 league appearances, the powerful midfielder has shown that his versatility is incredibly valuable for the Cherries.
- Evanilson: Although he has been a player largely under the radar, Evanilson has at times been the difference for his team. Yes, he has contributed with the ball at his feet and his movement has been a nightmare for opponents. However, what he does off the ball is what we think has been the difference for Bournemouth. His work rate and tenacity to dislodge opponents shape has been crucial for Bournemouth so far this year.
- Justin Kluivert: Son of the former Netherlands, Ajax and Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert, Justin has always had big shoes to fill in the league. He joined Bournemouth from Roma and has flourished in England. Scoring 12 goals in his 45 appearances he will no doubt want to improve his strike rate, but his ability upfront has been key to the Cherrie success this year.
Bournemouth Team News
Bournemouth are likely to be without Alex Scott, Julian Araujo and Luis Sinisterra for their clash at Ipswich.
Predicted Line-Up
Ipswich: 4-2-3-1: Muric, Davis, Burgess, O’Shea, Tuanzebe, Cajuste, Morsy, Szmodics, Hutchinson, Chaplin, delap
Bournemouth: 4-2-3-1: Kepa, Kerkez, Senesi, Zabarnyi, Smith, Christie, Semenyo, Tavernier, Kluivert, Brooks, Evanilson
Suggested Bets
For the punters amongst us, these are some of the best worth considering ahead of this encounter at the weekend,
Bournemouth to Win: Bournemouth to win. They are the more complete team and going forward they possess some serious attacking weapons. We don’t think they will blow Ipswich away, but we can’t see past a Cherries win (11/10 (2.1) with Betway and Bet365)
Both Teams to Score (No): We really think Ipswich will struggle to get on top of this Bournemouth side. The hosts have struggled to create serious attacking opportunities which leads us to think that the bet on hand here might be both teams to score (no) at (12/10 (1.5) with Betway and Bet365)
Under 2.5 Goals: In order for Ipswich to keep this game competitive they need to suffocate their visitors, when you couple that with the fact that they themselves have struggled to score, backing a low-scoring game might be the play here. (10/10 (2.0) with Betway and Bet365)
Value Bets
First Half: Draw: The first half of this game looks set up to be a rather cagey affair. You can expect Ipswich to attempt to find an aggressive approach to the closing down the space for Bournemouth, and then looking to put pressure on their final third. We have reservations about Ipswich’s finishing and so a draw at the half looks attractive at 13/10 (2.3) with Bet365)
1st Goal and Win Combo: Bournemouth/Bournemouth: At 14/10 (2.4) with Betway, Bournemouth scoring first and going on to win the game is an absolute treat – Get on!
Prediction: Bournemouth Win
Given the fact that Bournemouth have showed that they are happy to sacrifice space, possession and their shape at times if it means they are sticking to their aggressive approach is an incredible indictment on their team.
This is a side who have struggled in recent seasons, but this year they are taking points off back teams and have proven to be a difficult side to beat. In Ipswich they find an opponent who have struggled to find any sort of traction in the league for an extended period of time.
We don’t think the Cherries blow them away, but we can’t see past the away win.
Ryan Liberty is an experienced sports writer whose articles have featured in some of the biggest sports publications in South Africa. With a strong understanding of all major sports and an in-depth understanding of betting, Ryan consistently delivers insightful content. He's also known for his ability to break down complex topics into engaging, reader-friendly pieces.
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