- Team form: Ipswich Town have won three of their last five matches, including a 2-0 away win over high-flying Norwich City.
- Winless run: Charlton Athletic have failed to win their last five (D2, L3).
- Away form: Ipswich Town have won 2 of their last 3 away matches.
Two contrasting styles and two very different clubs
Table positions
Third-placed Ipswich Town have accumulated 75 points from 41 Championship matches, while their opponents on Wednesday, Charlton Athletic, are 19th with 50 points from 43 games. There is no denying that Ipswich are much the superior team and have enjoyed much the better season, but Kieran McKenna’s team are a worthy favorite to take the win at The Valley, where Charlton Athletic have won just eight times in 21 home matches.
Charlton's tactical shift
Nathan Jones has taken a different approach to McKenna since taking charge at Charlton Athletic in February, instilling a high-tempo, direct and high-pressing style of play which is a refreshing change from their usual style of soccer. Charlton can play a 4-2-3-1 and look to stretch the play wide with direct runs and crosses from the flanks.
The Addicks operate a man-to-man pressing game to get the ball back high up the field, but they have struggled to generate much in terms of goals at The Valley this term, scoring just 20 times in 21 league games. The introduction of Matt Godden has given them some spark up top, with the striker scoring half of their total goals in their last four matches.
Ipswich can take all the game and score the goals
Possession and system
Ipswich are the sort of team that can dominate possession and keep the ball in their own half when they want to, and they will surely fancy their chances of picking the Charlton defence apart at some point in this game. McKenna’s 4-2-3-1 is possession-based with inverted wingers, overlapping full-backs and a number 10 who likes to sit in the hole.
Key players and away record
It is a system that encourages all-out pressing and is perfect for rotating players and keeping the match flow.
- Ipswich can dominate the box through overloads and the likes of Jack Clarke, who has 14 Championship goals in 41 appearances this term, to pick Charlton off at the back.
- The Tractor Boys have won eight and drawn five of their 20 Championship away matches and look ready to win the tough matches when it matters.
- Ipswich score an average of 1.65 goals per game away from home and concede an average of 1.35, suggesting they can pick the win with a goal to spare on Wednesday.
A win for the visitors is highly likely
Charlton have drawn two and lost three of their last five and have suffered three straight home defeats. Ipswich are a superior side in almost every respect and we’re backing the visitors to secure a vital win with the odds of 1.71. Charlton did beat Ipswich 0-3 away five months ago, but McKenna will have learned from that loss and the Tractor Boys are expected to leave The Valley with a vital victory.
