Bristol City v Ipswich Town
Championship | Ashton Gate
Wednesday, 25 October 2023 @ 7.45pm
Two of the Championship's meanest defences go head-to-head at Ashton Gate on Wednesday, when Bristol City host Ipswich Town.
Only two sides – Leicester City and Birmingham City – have conceded fewer goals than City to date: the home side have let in just 13 goals in 12 games.
The Blues have conceded the same number of goals in 11 games, giving them the third tightest back line so far this season.
Key to the Robins's home form has been Max O’Leary, who has allowed 1.08 goals past him per 90 minutes, compared to 1.18 for Václav Hladký in the opposite net.
Ipswich are second in the table after 11 games, of which they have won nine and drawn one, earning 28 points.
City are six places behind Town in eighth, with five wins and three draws putting them on 18 points.
The Robins are in mixed form in the Championship, with three wins and three losses from their last six games.
With five wins and a draw over that period, the Blues' form is much better – they have taken 16 points from 18, compared to the home team's nine.
In the last 10 years, City and Ipswich have played each other on eight occasions. City won five of them, Ipswich one, and they drew twice.
On average, the Robins scored 1.9 goals and the Blues 1.1 in those matches.
Their last meeting was on March 12 2019, when they played out a 1-1 draw.
The visitors' Leif Davis is the league's most creative player, racking up five assists in 10 appearances so far this season.
For City, Joe Williams, Mark Sykes and Kal Naismith have set up the most goals, having laid on two assists apiece to date.
City's last match was on Saturday, a 1-0 win against Coventry City, with Robert Dickie getting the goal for the Robins.
Ipswich beat Preston North End 4-2 last time out, on October 7, with Brandon Williams, Conor Chaplin, Kayden Jackson and Nathan Broadhead on the scoresheet.
Wednesday's match will be refereed by Tom Nield, who has taken charge of three Championship games so far this season, issuing no red cards and booking 13 players. He has awarded one penalty.
He is yet to oversee a match featuring either City or Ipswich this season.