FA Cup Fourth Round Preview: Coventry City vs Ipswich Town
Published:
Fixture: Coventry City vs Ipswich Town
Date: Saturday, 8 February 2025
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Venue: Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry
Match Overview
Cup fever is alive and well in Coventry as Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues take on Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town in what promises to be a tightly contested fourth-round tie.
Coventry come into this game in red-hot form, having won four consecutive matches across all competitions, including a solid 2-0 away win against Swansea City in the Championship. With home advantage and a well-drilled defence, they will fancy their chances of progressing to the next round.
Ipswich, meanwhile, have endured a rough run in the Premier League, losing their last four matches. However, their 3-0 demolition of Bristol Rovers in the previous FA Cup round showed they are still capable of producing a strong performance.
Will Coventry continue their surge towards a cup run, or can Ipswich rediscover their early-season magic and knock out their lower-league opponents?
Recent Form & FA Cup Journey
Coventry City (Last 5 Matches in All Competitions)
- W 2-0 vs Swansea (Championship)
- W 2-1 vs Watford (Championship)
- W 2-0 vs Blackburn (Championship)
- W 1-0 vs Bristol City (Championship)
- D 1-1 (Won on Pens) vs Sheffield Wednesday (FA Cup Third Round)
Coventry have won four in a row and have kept three clean sheets in that time.
Ipswich Town (Last 5 Matches in All Competitions)
- L 1-2 vs Southampton (Premier League)
- L 1-4 vs Liverpool (Premier League)
- L 0-6 vs Man City (Premier League)
- L 0-2 vs Brighton (Premier League)
- W 3-0 vs Bristol Rovers (FA Cup Third Round)
Ipswich have lost four in a row in the league, conceding 14 goals in the process.
Head-to-Head & FA Cup History
- Ipswich have had the upper hand in recent meetings, winning the last two encounters (2-1 & 2-1) in the Championship.
- Coventry last defeated Ipswich in 2020, a 1-0 win in League One.
- The two clubs last met in the FA Cup in 2019, with Coventry winning 2-1 away at Portman Road.
Given Coventry’s current form and Ipswich’s defensive struggles, this fixture could tilt in the home side’s favour.
Team News & Predicted Lineups
Coventry City Team News
Coventry have a few injury concerns, with Ben Sheaf, Haji Wright, and Ephron Mason-Clark all ruled out. However, Lampard is expected to field a strong lineup as Coventry looks to continue their momentum.
Predicted XI (3-5-2)
GK: Oliver Dovin
DEF: Bobby Thomas, Liam Kitching, Joel Latibeaudiere
MID: Jamie Allen, Josh Rudoni, Victor Torp, Jake Bidwell, Milan van Ewijk
ATT: Ellis Simms, Brandon Thomas-Asante
Key Player: Ellis Simms – The striker has been clinical in Coventry’s attack and will be their main goal threat.
Ipswich Town Team News
Ipswich could rotate their squad, given their Premier League struggles. Chiedozie Ogbene, Wes Burns, and Conor Chaplin will all be missing, with Sammie Szmodics also ruled out.
Possible XI (4-2-3-1)
GK: Alex Palmer
DEF: Leif Davis, Cameron Burgess, Luke Woolfenden, Ben Johnson
MID: Sam Morsy, Jack Taylor
ATT MID: Nathan Broadhead, Julio Enciso, Omari Hutchinson
ST: George Hirst
Key Player: Nathan Broadhead – One of Ipswich’s brightest attacking talents, capable of producing a moment of magic.
Tactical Breakdown & What to Expect
Coventry City’s Approach
- Compact defensive shape, a disciplined midfield.
- Look to control the game through Josh Rudoni and Jamie Allen.
- Utilise Simms and Thomas-Asante on the break
Ipswich Town’s Approach
- Dominating possession, moving the ball quickly.
- Exploit Coventry’s backline with high pressing.
- Rely on Broadhead and Hutchinson’s creativity
Prediction: Coventry to Edge a Tight Battle
Ipswich will be desperate to turn around their poor form, but Coventry are a team on the rise. With home advantage and confidence on their side, they should just about get the job done.
Final Score: Coventry City 2-1 Ipswich Town
Coventry’s form should carry them through, but Ipswich won’t make it easy.
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Two teams. Two different runs of form. But only one will march on to the next round. The FA Cup magic is alive—can Coventry capitalise on their momentum, or will Ipswich rediscover their spark and progress? We’ll find out on Saturday.
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