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Draw
Both Ipswich and Sunderland currently find themselves just outside the League One play-off places but boast several games in hand on the teams above them and a win on Tuesday night could kickstart a promotion charge.
Both sides missed a number of games over Christmas due to positive COVID-19 tests and have been in indifferent form since their return to action.
Ipswich have played just three games since mid-December, losing two and winning one of them. Paul Lambert’s side have lost their last two home games and have also lost five of their last six games at Portman Road in a dismal run stretching back to November.
Tuesday, 7.45pm: Ipswich Town v Sunderland
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Sunderland, meanwhile, have played five league games since their flurry of postponements; winning two, drawing two and losing one. The Black Cats’ promotion push has been thwarted by draws – no team has drawn more than them – and they have drawn six of their last 11 league games in a run that has seen them fall out of the play-off places.
Along with Manchester United, Sunderland boast the only unbeaten away record in England this season, although a number of them have been draws. That resilience on the road, coupled with Ipswich’s struggles at home and Sunderland’s run of draws, points to a stalemate on Tuesday night.
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Under 2.5 goals
If draws have been the principal reason for Sunderland’s current league position, then a lack of goals is surely a close second. Lee Johnson’s side have scored one goal or less in eight of their last ten games in League One and boast the worst goalscoring record of the top eight.
Granted, Sunderland have played fewer games than most of their promotion rivals, but in most cases the difference in goalscoring records is substantial. On the other hand, Sunderland boast the best defensive record in the division by quite a distance, conceding an impressive 17 goals from their 21 games so far. Only two other clubs have conceded fewer than 20 goals so far.
It’s hard to see Tuesday night’s game bucking the trend, especially considering Ipswich boast an even worse goalscoring record than Sunderland.
Charlie Wyke to score anytime
If there are going to be goals on Tuesday, then Sunderland’s Charlie Wyke is by far the most obvious selection for anytime goalscorer.
The English striker sits top of the League One goalscoring charts among a cluster of five players on 11 goals. He is currently in a hot run of form, scoring four of Sunderland’s six league goals since their return to action at the beginning of January, including a hattrick in their previous away game at Wimbledon.
Wyke boasts a goal conversion rate of 29 per cent, the third-highest of the top-ten scorers in League One at present, and there is an excellent chance that he will gobble up any chance that comes his way. A combination of all three bets also points to a 1-1 draw.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change
Ipswich v Sunderland bet summary – Tuesday, January 26
Draw
Under 2.5 goals
Charlie Wyke to score anytime
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