Ipswich vs Fulham predictions: Tractor Boys to stall again
- Ipswich have played two and lost two in the Premier League
- Fulham got off the mark with a 2-1 win over Leicester
- Recommended bet: Fulham to win
Ipswich's return to English football's top table has perhaps unsurprisingly kicked off with two defeats, but they will have targeted the visit of Fulham as an opportunity to get off the mark.
Kieran McKenna's men were handed tough opening fixtures against Liverpool and Manchester City, losing 2-0 at home to the Reds and 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium.
Fulham have three points to their name after following up their opening-night 1-0 loss at Manchester United with a 2-1 victory over Leicester.
Team news
Ipswich made 10 changes for Wednesday night's Carabao Cup tie at home to League Two side AFC Wimbledon, who stunned the Tractor Boys in a penalty shoot-out after the game ended 2-2.
Jens Cajuste, Jack Clarke and Conor Chaplin, of the players who came in, have probably challenged for a place in McKenna's starting XI against Fulham, although Wes Burns, George Hirst and Nathan Broadhead are all still missing.
It is possible Marco Silva will send out the same side as he fielded against Leicester in his preferred 4-2-3-1 system, although new centre-back Joachim Andersen could replace Calvin Bassey.
The stats
Ipswich's 2-0 defeat by Liverpool was their first in 10 at home, since they were stunned by Maidstone in the FA Cup in January.
Fulham's last eight away league matches have produced 25 goals, 18 of which were scored in the second half of those games.
Fulham have won their last six fixtures against Ipswich, four of which have been at Portman Road.
Prediction
It is played two, lost two for Ipswich, which is no disgrace considering their first Premier League games since promotion have been against Liverpool and Manchester City.
The major issue is not necessarily the results but the incredible buying spree the club has been going on with six new faces arriving in the past two weeks alone and 11 in total over the summer.
That is inevitably disruptive and could mean a while before they bed in — and that plays into Fulham's hands.
There had been criticism of Marco Silva for not going on a transfer splurge though he has recruited — seemingly wisely — with Emile Smith Rowe and Joachim Andersen two impressive arrivals.
Because of that Fulham look the more settled and are clearly the more upbeat following a week which yielded a 2-1 win over Leicester in the league and a 2-0 win at Birmingham in the Carabao Cup.
Fulham have had an extra 24 hours to prepare for this tussle and right now look in a better place so are worth siding with.
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