Ipswich vs Spurs – Match preview and team news

The Football Faithful

·22 February 2025

Ipswich vs Spurs – Match preview and team news

Spurs travel to Portman Road for the first time since 2002 this weekend to face Ipswich Town in the Premier League.

Ange Postecoglou’s side climbed into 12th position in the Premier League last Sunday after beating fellow strugglers Manchester United 1-0 in North London.

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The Australian manager has confirmed there are no fresh injury concerns ahead of their trip to Suffolk. There were slight concerns over the availability of Kevin Danso, Rodrigo Bentancur and Heung-min Son but Postecoglou has reported the trio have recovered from their respective knocks. Timo Werner may be recalled into the squad after returning to training.

The club expect Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero to be ready in time for their Europa League last 16 tie against AZ Alkmaar. The first leg in the Netherlands is scheduled for 6 March.

Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich have 13 games left to try and avoid an immediate return to the Championship.

The Tractor Boys will be without Brighton loanee Julio Enciso, although his knee injury isn’t as bad as first feared. The 21-year-old was visibly distressed after being forced off against Aston Villa. However, scans have indicated there is no significant damage.

Leif Davis, Sam Morsy and Sammie Szmodics have all been cleared to feature in this afternoon’s squad. The valued trio all missed the draw away to Villa with knocks. However, Axel Tuanzebe is suspended after being sent off last weekend.

Ipswich vs Spurs – Premier League match preview and team news

Form

Ipswich: LLLWD

Ten-man Ipswich picked up a hard-fought point away to Aston Villa last weekend. Disaster struck in the first-half as former Villa defender Axel Tuanzebe was given his marching orders with the scores level.

Against the odds Liam Delap broke the deadlock before Ollie Watkins equalised. Goalkeeper Alex Palmer, who was making his Premier League debut after being acquired from West Brom on deadline day, was in inspired form to earn a point for his side.

That draw put an end to a four-game losing streak in the league which included that damning home defeat to Southampton.

Safety is within their grasp as 17th placed Wolves are only two points above them heading into the weekend’s action.

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna has ties to Tottenham after coaching their development squads and representing them as a youth player.

Spurs: WWLLW

Tottenham secured consecutive Premier League wins for only the second time this season after overcoming Manchester United and Brentford.

The returning James Maddison scored the winner to help his team climb above the Red Devils and into 12th position. Another positive for Ange Postecoglou was the fact his team kept successive clean sheets following their 2-0 over the Bees the previous week.

Spurs are vying to record three league wins on the spin for the first time since 2023 this afternoon. With several key figures recovering from injury, Postecoglou will be optimistic his team can fight for a European spot in the closing stages of the campaign.

The Lilywhites are 14 points off the top four with 13 games remaining. It’s an unlikely yet not mathematically impossible deficit to overturn.

Read – Maddison answers ‘outside noise’ with Man Utd winner

Last Meeting

Spurs 1-2 Ipswich, Premier League, 10 November 2024

Ipswich recorded their first Premier League win in 22 years by beating Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last November.

After getting promoted from the Championship, the Tractor Boys had gone winless in their first ten matches of the season. But a spirited display in North London earned them a priceless three points.

Kieran McKenna’s side imposed themselves from the first whistle and almost breached Guglielmo Vicario’s net early on. A deep corner found Liam Delap, but the striker could only manage to hit the crossbar with a difficult header.

Sammie Szmodics would strike first just after the half hour mark with an acrobatic attempt. Jens Cajuste’s cross fell to the Ireland international who improved proficiently to hook in the opening goal.

The momentum was well and truly in Ipswich’s favour and they scored their second just before the interval. Szmodics’ driven cross was palmed out by Vicario but only as far as his teammate Radu Dragusin who directed the ball goalward. The attentive Liam Delap beat the defender to the ball, smashing it into the net from the goal line.

Spurs were much improved after the break and halved the deficit through Rodrigo Bentancur midway through the half. The Uruguayan rose highest from a corner to nod past Arijanet Muric and stage an enticing finale in N17.

Despite their best efforts, Postecoglou and his players couldn’t find an equaliser as Ipswich celebrated their first top-flight victory in over two decades.

What time is kick-off?

Kick-off at Portman Road will be at 15:00 GMT on Saturday 22nd February 2025.

Who is the referee?

Tim Robinson will be the match official. Simon Long and Steve Meredith will assist him while David Webb will be the fourth official. The VAR will be Chris Kavanagh and he will be assisted by Tim Wood.