On April 19, 2026, Ipswich Town will host Middlesbrough at Portman Road. This match comes just two days after Ipswich suffered a setback against Portsmouth, losing 2-0 at Fratton Park.
Currently, Ipswich Town sits in second place in the Championship table, two points ahead of Millwall and three points ahead of Southampton and Middlesbrough. They have lost only one of their 21 home fixtures this season.
Before the defeat to Portsmouth, Ipswich had been on a nine-game unbeaten run, winning six and drawing three. Their last win against Middlesbrough was a solid 2-0 victory back in December 2023.
Middlesbrough, on the other hand, finds themselves in fifth place. They have not won in their last six Championship matches and have struggled offensively — scoring only 11 goals from an expected goals (xG) total of 19 since early March. This performance represents the biggest underperformance in the league during that period.
Despite their recent struggles, Middlesbrough has not lost in their last four visits to Portman Road, with two wins and two draws. However, they face a tough challenge against an Ipswich side that has not lost at home since October 2025.
Jack Clarke has been a standout player for Ipswich this season, netting 14 goals. His form will be crucial as Ipswich aims to bounce back from their recent loss.
But Middlesbrough’s manager Kim Hellberg knows his team must improve quickly to avoid further damage to their playoff aspirations. “Middlesbrough are a wounded animal at the moment and could suffer another damaging defeat at Portman Road on Sunday,” an analyst noted.
The stakes are high for both teams. Ipswich will be extremely confident of collecting three vital points in the Championship promotion race.
As the match approaches, anticipation builds among fans and players alike. The outcome could significantly impact both teams’ chances of securing automatic promotion this season.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding any last-minute changes to either squad before kickoff.
