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Ipswich will be aiming to secure their place in the Premier League when they host Huddersfield this afternoon, exclusively live on talkSPORT 2.

The Tractor Boys put themselves in pole position for automatic promotion in midweek after beating Coventry 2-1 to move clear of Leeds in second.

Ipswich are on the brink of a second straight promotion
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Ipswich are on the brink of a second straight promotionCredit: Getty

Kieran McKenna’s side needed to avoid defeat to leapfrog the Whites and they did, meaning they now just need a point to book a spot in the top-flight. 

They welcome the Terriers to Portman Road, with Andre Breitenreiter’s men virtually relegated already, needing a 15-goal swing on the final day. 

So Ipswich will fancy themselves to get the job done and achieve an incredible feat by joining champions Leicester City in the Premier League

Ipswich vs Huddersfield: Back-to-back promotions

Ipswich have the chance to become only the fifth team ever to go from League One to Premier League in two seasons. 

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The last club to achieve that feat was Southampton between 2010 and 2012 under Nigel Adkins, who Mauricio Pochettino replaced after going up to the top flight.

The Tractor Boys’ bitter rivals Norwich also managed consecutive promotions between 2009 and 2011 when Paul Lambert was the hero in his first two seasons as manager. 

Manchester City and Watford are the other two teams to do so, with Ipswich now on the brink of joining them. 

In all of the English Football League, just 17 teams have managed back-to-back promotions of any kind, showing how rare an achievement it is. 

Ipswich fans have been treated to an incredible two years
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Ipswich fans have been treated to an incredible two yearsCredit: Getty
  • Ipswich Town have won just one of their last seven league games against Huddersfield Town (D3 L3), a 1-0 win in February 2016 under Mick McCarthy.
  • This is Huddersfield’s first league visit to Ipswich since October 2016, when they won 1-0 with a goal from Chris Schindler.

Ipswich vs Huddersfield: Team news

Ipswich could be without Wes Burns after he was forced to be substituted against Coventry with a knock. 

If Burns is ruled out, Brighton loanee Jeremy Sarmiento could come into the line-up while Conor Chaplin may also return to the team. 

The only definite absentees will be Brandon Williams and Janoi Donacien. 

As for Huddersfield, Jonathan Hogg and Tom Leeds remain sidelined while Sorba Thomas is expected to start after coming off the bench last time out. 

Sarmiento could start on the Championship's final day
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Sarmiento could start on the Championship's final dayCredit: Getty
Gabby Agbonlahor claims he'd rather have Ipswich promoted to the Premier League than Leeds
  • Huddersfield Town have won their final league game of the season in each of the last two seasons, beating Bristol City in 2021-22 and Reading in 2022-23. The Terriers haven’t ended a season with a win in three consecutive years since between 1991-92 and 1993-94.
  • Excluding the 2019-20 season which was curtailed early, Ipswich haven’t lost their final league game of the season since May 2017 against Nottingham Forest and are unbeaten in five games since on MD46 (W3 D2).

Ipswich vs Huddersfield: What has been said? 

Despite Ipswich looking set for promotion, manager McKenna doesn’t believe it will be simple to get over the line against Huddersfield.

He said: "I've got belief in them and a lot of belief in what we've done. 

“The consistency that we've shown, how we prepare for games, how we concentrate throughout games and how we get our identity out there on the pitch gives us a great chance to win games.

"I've got a lot of belief but it's a football match, two teams in the same division, one who were in a lower division the season before.

"Anything can happen, I don't expect it to be smooth sailing. There's going to be tension in the game for sure as there is when you're fighting for things.

“But it'll be about doing enough of the right things to help us keep on top of that."

McKenna doesn't expect getting over the line to be as easy as it looks on paper
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McKenna doesn't expect getting over the line to be as easy as it looks on paperCredit: Getty
  • Ipswich Town have scored 57 home league goals this season, the most by a side in a Championship campaign since Reading scored 58 in 2005-06. The last second tier team to hit 60+ home goals in a single season were Man City in 2001-02 (63).

Ipswich vs Huddersfield: talkSPORT coverage 

This Championship clash will take place on Saturday, May 4. 

Kick-off at Portman Road is scheduled for 12:30pm. 

talkSPORT 2 will have EXCLUSIVE live coverage of the game presented by Faye Carruthers. 

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Commentary will come from Ian Danter and former England striker Dean Ashton

Coverage will also include all the goals as they go on the final day of the Championship season. 

To tune in to talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

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