English Premier
2026-08-22 - Ipswich Town vs Sunderland
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 22nd August 2026 - Kick Off 3pm
Ipswich Town
Two years ago, Ipswich Town had earned back to back promotions under Kieran McKenna and embarking on a first Premier League campaign since 2002, but it did feel like they had perhaps moved too quickly. Relegation was not all that surprising, but McKenna did retain the confidence of the board and the fans and he once again helped The Tractor Boys return to the top flight.
The manager had impressed enough to be linked with a number of vacant roles at the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea so it was a surprise when Kieran McKenna announced his departure from Portman Road in June. He has left to take a break from management, which is the real surprise, and so it is Gary O'Neil who will take charge having kept Bournemouth and Wolves in the Premier League when overseeing difficult situations.
Ipswich Town will be hoping that experience can help them, as well as their own from the last campaign at this level, and they will be well aware that a single win at Portman Road is not going to cut it. That was all they managed two years ago, but Ipswich Town return to the Premier League unbeaten in 18 at home in all competitions and they have won 12 of those games.
New signings Abdul Fatawu and Florentino are both expecting to be passed fit. The club have given Gary O'Neil a number of new signings hoping to make a better effort at bridging the gap to the Premier League this time around.
Sunderland
Before last season, the two previous campaigns had seen all six promoted clubs relegated and Sunderland entered the 2025/26 season short odds to be one of those dropping back into the Championship. The squad overachieved to come through the Play Offs to return to the Premier League at the end of the 2025 season and Regis Le Bris has to be given a lot of credit for gelling together a squad that had been virtually completely signed in the summer window.
Not only did the manager ensure Sunderland avoided the drop, but Regis Le Bris has helped The Black Cats to finish above rivals Newcastle United and earn a spot in the Europa League. There has not been nearly as much incoming transfer activity this season compared with last, but the manager has to help Sunderland manage European and domestic commitments and that may mean a drop back from the heady heights of 7th place.
Sunderland finished last season unbeaten in 4 Premier League games and consecutive wins over Everton and Chelsea ensured a top seven finish. Improving the away form will certainly help Sunderland in their bid to have another successful season, but the manager will take confidence from the fact his team won half of the last 8 games played on their travels in all competitions.
Thomas Meunier, Omar Alderete and Nordi Mukiele are all hoping to pass fitness tests and travel with the squad.
Head to Head
Ipswich Town and Sunderland last met in the 2023/24 Championship season and The Tractor Boys won both games by the same 2-1 scoreline.
The last 4 at Portman Road have ended with the two clubs earning a win apiece.
Prediction
When Ipswich Town competed in the 2024/25 Premier League, they earned a single win at Portman Road and scored just 14 goals here in 19 fixtures and Gary O'Neil will be certain to know that has to be improved significantly.
He takes over from Kieran McKenna as Ipswich Town manager and keeping Bournemouth and Wolves in this Division will give the fans hope that O'Neil can do the same for them.
It is a challenge and Ipswich Town cannot afford to wait until the end of December to win an opening League game at home.
This puts some pressure on the players and fans will look at fixtures like this one as those where Ipswich Town have to find a way to pick up points.
Take nothing away from Sunderland and all they achieved in 2026, but they did overachieve and the test for Regis Le Bris and his players is finding that level again. They have not made the host of signings like last season, but there is always a fear that some staleness could begin to come into play, while the added Europa League commitments will test the squad.
We will see the impact of that as the season develops, but Nottingham Forest will be a cautionary tale and Sunderland will want to make a strong start to the campaign.
Winning 5 of 19 away League games might not look that impressive, but it should be respected considering it was Sunderland's first season back in the top flight. The Black Cats were tough to beat and that is underlined by conceding 28 away League goals and losing fewer than half of those fixtures on their travels and Sunderland can do enough to avoid defeat at Portman Road.
All of the away wins were at teams that finished 10th or lower in the Premier League final table, but none at the homes of the three relegated teams.
In fact, Sunderland drew 2 and lost 2 at the bottom four clubs and the draw looks a big player in this opening fixture for both of these teams this weekend.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Ipswich Town 1-1 Sunderland
