Ipswich Town vs Sunderland: Championship Rivalry

By: Gordon

Ipswich Town and Sunderland have faced each other 20 times since 2000, creating a competitive rivalry in English football. The head-to-head record favors Sunderland with 10 wins compared to Ipswich Town’s 7 victories, while 3 matches have ended in draws.

This rivalry has primarily played out in the English Championship and other domestic competitions, showcasing two clubs with rich histories in English football.

Historical head-to-head record

The competitive nature of matches between Ipswich Town and Sunderland is evident in their closely matched goal tallies. Ipswich Town has scored a total of 28 goals across their encounters, averaging 1.4 goals per match. Sunderland has been nearly identical in their offensive output, scoring 27 goals with the same 1.4 goals per match average. This statistical similarity highlights the evenly matcohed nature of their contests despite Sunderland holding a slight edge in overall victories.

The rivalry has seen periods of dominance shift between the two sides, with momentum often changing hands across different seasons. Both clubs have experienced various promotions and relegations throughout their histories, meaning their encounters have taken place across different tiers of English football, This dynamic has added an interesting dimension to their rivalry, as the stakes and context of their matches have evolved over time.

Recent form and performances

In their most recent five encounters, both teams have struggled to find consistent form. Ipswich Town managed just one win, two draws, and suffered two losses during this period. Their offensive output dropped to 0.8 goals per match while conceding a concerning 2.4 goals per match. Sunderland’s recent record appears marginally worse with one win, one draw, and three losses in their last five matches. The Black Cats scored an average of 0.6 goals per match while conceding 1.2 goals per match.

The most recent clash between these two sides occurred on January 13, 2024, resulting in a 2-1 victory for Ipswich Town. This match exemplified the typically close nature of contests between these teams, with jsut a single goal separating them at the final whistle. The victory proved significant for Ipswich Town in their campaign, while representing another setback for Sunderland in their recent head-to-head encounters.

Betting and statistical analysis

The Asian Handicap statistics reveal interesting insights into the recent performances of both teams. Ipswich Town holds a 40% Asian Handicap win percentage in recent matches, demonstrating their relative strength compared to Sunderland’s 20% in the same metric. This disparity suggests that Ipswich has been more reliable against the spread in betting markets, potentially indicating better overall performance relative to expectations.

The total goals statistics further illuminate the offensive and defensive tendencies of both sides:

  • Ipswich Town matches have gone over the predicted total goals 60% of the time in their last five games
  • Sunderland matches have exceeded the total goals line just 20% of the time in their recent fixtures
  • The average combined goal count in their head-to-head matches remains consistent at 2.8 goals per game
  • Both teams have scored in 65% of their encounters since 2000

These statistics suggest that Ipswich Town matches have recently been higher-scoring affairs compared to Sunderland’s more conservative contests. This trend could be attributed to Ipswich’s more porous defense (conceding 2.4 goals per match) combined with their slightly superior attacking output compared to Sunderland in recent games.

Future matchups and significance

The rivalry between Ipswich Town and Sunderland continues to hold significance in English football, particularly within the Championship context. Their contests often have implications for promotion battles, relegation fights, or mid-table positioning depending on the season. The historical competitiveness between these sides suggests future matchups will likely remain closely contested affairs.

The tactical approaches of both teams have evolved over time, but their matches consistently produce engaging football with relatively even goal distribution. With Ipswich Town’s recent victory in January 2024, they may carry psychological momentum into their next encounter, though Sunderland will be motivated to improve upon their recent head-to-head record. The statistical similarities in their overall goal-scoring records suggest that despite fluctuations in form, these teams remain well-matched opponents.