Hull City vs Ipswich Prediction

Right then, let's have a proper look at this Championship clash between Hull City and Ipswich. Both sides are knocking around the top half of the table, but there's a bit of a story here that might point us towards a winner.

Hull are sitting pretty in 6th spot with 25 points, but their recent form's been a bit hit and miss. They've been banging them in - 1.80 goals per game over their last 10 - but they've also been leaking them at the back with 1.50 conceded. Looking at their recent results, they had a decent 3-2 win over Portsmouth but then got turned over 3-2 by QPR in their last outing. The thing that catches my eye is their home record against Ipswich - only one win in four meetings at their place. Strange, that.

Ipswich, on the other hand, have been looking sharp on their travels. They're averaging 2.50 goals per game away from home - that's some serious firepower! Their recent form shows they can mix it with anyone too, putting four past both Swansea and QPR on the road. They're also tighter at the back than Hull, conceding just 1.10 per game compared to Hull's 1.50.

The stats tell an interesting story - Ipswich dominate possession (56.8% vs 47.2%) and take more shots (16.8 vs 10.2), though Hull are a bit more accurate with theirs. When you look at the goal expectancies - 1.52 for Hull and 1.85 for Ipswich - it suggests we're in for goals, and probably both teams getting on the scoresheet.

The bookies have got Ipswich as favourites at 2.00, and looking at the form and stats, that looks about right to me. Their away form has been top drawer, they're creating more chances, and they've got the better defensive record. Hull's home advantage might not count for much here given their poor head-to-head record at home against these lot.

Key Points:

• Ipswich averaging 2.50 goals per game away from home

• Hull have poor home record vs Ipswich (1 win in 4)

• Both teams scoring in 80% of Hull's recent games

• Ipswich have better defensive record (1.10 vs 1.50 conceded)

• Ipswich taking 16.8 shots per game vs Hull's 10.2

The value's with the away side here. Ipswich have been impressive on the road and look to have more about them than Hull at the moment. With their attacking firepower and Hull's leaky defence, I'm backing Ipswich to take the three points back to Suffolk.