Ipswich Town return to Portman Road for their final game before the November international break, facing in-form Bournemouth. Alex Jones previews the action...
END OF THE BLOCK
It doesn’t feel long since the end of the last international break, but we’re already heading into another one. Thankfully, there will be no more until March after this.
It does, however, create a nice block for us to assess Ipswich’s situation. Five games between the end of the last international break and the start of the next one.
Four of those matches have been played – 2-1 win against Fulham (H), 3-2 defeat at Manchester City (A), 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest (H) and 2-2 draw against Hull City (A).
All things considered, Town feel like they are in good spot. Beating Fulham was vital. The defeat to Man City was no disgrace. Taking a point from the Forest game, given how strong the visitors looked, has to be seen as a positive.
On the flip side, there was a feeling of disappointment leaving Hull last weekend. The Blues were so dominant in the first half, taking the lead through Florentino, but the Tigers turned things after the break before Julio Enciso’s stunner earned a point.
Five points from four games is a strong return, but eight points from five would feel much better going into a two-week break.
IN-FORM CHERRIES
Bournemouth had to deal with a significant change over the summer after qualifying for Europe for the first time in their history, losing boss Andoni Iraola to Liverpool.
They made the move to replace him with Marco Rose, after brief links to Kieran McKenna and others, and pushed hard to keep all of their star players after losing Antoine Semenyo in January (Man City, £62m). Marco Senesi, who joined Spurs on a free transfer, was the only significant departure.
The Cherries started the season slowly. Some were left questioning whether they would be dragged into a relegation battle, especially after the 5-1 defeat at Chelsea, but most felt that they were too strong to languish towards the bottom of the table.
So it proved. They turned things around after the Stamford Bridge horror show, winning their next six games on the bounce without conceding. That included 3-0 victories against AC Milan and Manchester United.
They added a seventh win on Thursday night, beating 10-man Sparta Prague 3-1 in the Europa League.
Bournemouth rested key players in Prague for that game – at least from the start. Expect them to be at their free-flowing best when they arrive at Portman Road.
Possible Bournemouth XI: 4-2-3-1: Petrovic; Smith, Hill, Silva, Truffert; Adams, Christie; Rayan, Kluivert, Tavernier; Evanilson
RETURNING MIDFIELDERS
Both teams could be welcoming midfielders back from injury for this game.
It sounds like Ipswich will have Sasa Lukic available once again. The Serbian missed the trip to Man City with a groin issue, and while Gary O’Neil was hopeful of having him ready to face Hull, a decision was made to leave him out to fully recover.
Florentino has done well in his absence, but Lukic has unique traits that make him the strongest option to partner Exequiel Palacios in the centre of the park. Having both of those players from the start would be a huge boost.
As for Bournemouth, there’s a chance that Alex Scott will return.
The 23-year-old, who’s been linked with Chelsea and Liverpool in recent months, suffered a thigh injury on England duty in the September/October international break.
Rose has stressed that his comeback in Suffolk ‘could be an option’, but that he needs to consider whether it’s ‘reasonable’.
The Cherries also have Junior Kroupi – a reported target for Arsenal, Bayern Munich and PSG – ready to play after suffering a pre-season foot injury.
WHO COULD START?
I’m expecting one or two changes from the draw at Hull.
Christian Walton will continue in goal, likely behind a back line of Abdoul Ouattara, Issa Diop, Dara O’Shea and Leif Davis.
Hopefully the midfield partnership of Palacios and Lukic will be restored, although Florentino impressed last weekend in the latter’s absence.
In attack, I’m sticking with Abdul Fatawu on the right and Julio Enciso as no.10. I’d certainly be tempted to switch things up on the left, perhaps looking at Jack Clarke, but I think Jaden Philogene will get the nod to go again.
Up top, expect Emersonn to go again, with Zian Flemming and Chuba Akpom on the bench.
Possible Town XI: 4-2-3-1: Walton; Ouattara, O’Shea, Diop, Davis; Lukic, Palacios; Fatawu, Enciso, Philogene; Emersonn
MY PREDICTION
This should be a different game to the draws against Forest and Hull. Less attritional, direct and physical. Ipswich and Bournemouth will want to get the ball down and play, which should make for an entertaining clash.
Will there be a Europa League hangover for the Cherries? After all, while Town have played four games since the last international break, they have had seven, so they could be feeling a bit burnt out.
That being said, Bournemouth have good depth and real quality in the squad. Their confidence must be through the roof right now.
While I back Ipswich to put in a strong showing at Portman Road, I think the visitors will have too much and will win this game 2-1.
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