Coventry’s promotion hopes are over, but Ipswich are now making their final push to the top tier.
A Huge Opportunity
Although Ipswich may be stuttering in terms of form, a top two finish in the Championship is still in their own hands.
Hold Your Nerve
As the EFL Championship season approaches its final week, there are still a number of issues to be resolved and although Leicester have booked their return to the Premier League at the first time of asking, the race for second is still yet to wave its chequered flag.
With Leeds and Ipswich being the only entrants in this race to be the best of the rest, it is Leeds who currently hold pole position. However, that head start for Daniel Farke’s men has come at the cost of having played a game more.
The Elland Road outfit on 90 points, the same number as Ipswich behind them in third and although the Yorkshire outfit have a better goal difference, such an advantage could end up being immaterial in just a few days.
Maybe even as soon as Tuesday night and although Ipswich cannot guarantee automatic promotion after their trip to Coventry, they can at least take a massive leap towards a second successive boost up the league ladder.
League One this time 12 months ago, one the precipice of the Premier League 12 months further down the line. Even for Kieran McKenna to lead this Ipswich side to where they are is an impressive feat, but now is not the time to sit back and collect the plaudits.
Especially as the nerves are obviously creeping in at Portman Road and with the Tractor Boys having failed to win any of their last four league outings, a return to winning ways would certainly be welcomed in the West Midlands.
Admittedly, the last three of those four have ended in draws and if Ipswich are to gain automatic promotion, they are seemingly inching closer by the week. However, now must surely be the time for them to take a great leap.
They travel to a Coventry side that is suffering from an FA Cup hangover and when you consider their herculean effort against Manchester United and the disappointment that come with it, you can perhaps understand why.
The Sky Blues have picked up a point from the last 12 on offer – a run that started before their recent trip to the capital and with their playoff hopes now over for this season, one wonders how much intensity will be on show from Mark Robins’ men.
But now it is time for the first of my two tips and because of Coventry having nothing to play for, all signs point to an Ipswich win. With this mind, you can get the away win and both teams to score at odds of 11/5.
In addition to this, I am going to back the first scorer and with Omari Hutchinson bagging a brace at Hull on Saturday, I also fancy him to open proceedings on Tuesday. If like me, you fancy the 20-year-old to get his 10th league goal of the season, you can back him at odds of 7/1.
Bet £10 Get £20 in Free Bets
