Sunderland vs Ipswich Town tips: Tractor Boys' promotion momentum can lift them to a winning start
- George Dempsey
- 4 August 2023
Sunderland will play host to Ipswich Town at the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon, rounding off a tasty triple header of Championship action.
Sunderland and Ipswich will round off a Super Sunday triple-header in the Championship with an open and attacking game to be expected.
Date, KO time and TV coverage
EFL Championship, Sunday August 6, Kick-off 5pm, live on Sky Sports Football
Predicted score
Sunderland 1-2 Ipswich Town
Championship betting tips
Bet: Ipswich Town to win
Bet: Over 2.5 goals
Bet: Both teams to score
Sunderland vs Ipswich Town betting preview
The young Black Cats were a surprise package last season, roaring to a sixth-place finish in the table under Tony Mowbray.
It's hardly surprising when you consider what a match made in heaven it is. They're blessed with a batch of talented, young players and Mowbray, a patient manager, likes to press high and attack.
Ipswich Town will be hoping they can repeat that trick by making an immediate impact in the Championship. Despite being the new boys, they're one of the favourites for promotion.
The coaching talent that is Kieran McKenna is destined for the Premier League and it's not beyond the realms of the possibility the Tractor Boys end up there with him.
The biggest challenge for Mowbray this season will be replacing the quality they've lost over the summer. Ellis Simms, Amad Diallo and Joe Gelhardt all had a role to play in their success.
Ross Stewart remains on the sidelines and there are several new faces to blend in, including Bradley Dack, Luis Semedo, Jobe Bellingham and Eliezer Mayenda.
Dack offers an experienced voice among a young group while 17-year-old Bellingham is following a similar path to his brother Jude. They'll also be able to count on Jack Clarke again.
Despite being 18 years of age, Semedi and Mayenda are here to play. The latter cost over £600,000 while Semedo has already opened his account. The pair look like more than adequate replacements.
The visitors averaged two goals per game last season with strikers Conor Chaplin (26), Freddie Ladapo (17), Wes Burns (8), Nathan Broadhead (8) and George Hirst (6) combing for 65 goals.
They're full of Championship experience in the middle of the park with Sam Morsy, Lee Evans and Massimo Luongo boasting over 450 appearances between them at this level.
Their all-conquering defence kept 28 clean sheets last season but Janoi Donacien, Cameron Burgess and co will be tested much more at this level.
Speaking of which, the hosts have scored in every home Championship fixture since December began, bagging 25 goals in 15 matches. Unfortunately, they also conceded 24 in that run.
We're expecting an open and entertaining affair here and given both sides' record of scoring goals, our first bets are over 2.5 goals and both teams to score.
As good as Mowbray's men were last season, they were also wildly inconsistent which perhaps cost them going one step further. That's not a criticism, but rather a reality of having a young squad.
Ipswich are coming from a lower level but they're one of the best teams to escape League One. Overall, they're better versed in their respective style than Sunderland's new-look frontline.
Both teams could be in for a fantastic season but there's always an element of the unknown with young players and transitions. We think Town look solid and with momentum behind them can make a winning start.
