Skip to main contentEnter
😄Good news

By the numbers: Ipswich Town brace for ultimate test at Manchester City

News
Ash Read
Ash Read

Ipswich visit champions Manchester City at the Etihad this weekend.

Ipswich Town's Premier League return has been anything but gentle. After a 2-0 home defeat to Liverpool in their opener, Town now faces an even steeper challenge: a trip to the Etihad to face reigning champions Manchester City.

Haaland celebrates his goal with his teammates
Manchester City's Erling Haaland celebrates with teammates Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva after scoring to make it 1-0 during the Premier League match at Stamford BridgeAlamy

The big picture: This fixture underscores the relentless nature of top-flight football, pitting a newly-promoted side against two of the league's elite in rapid succession.

This match marks Ipswich's first league game against Manchester City for 23 years.

Flashback: Both teams were newly promoted in the 2000/01 season. Ipswich won both league games against City that term, with their 2-1 win at Portman Road in May 2001 confirming City's relegation back to the second tier.

Fast forward: The tables have dramatically turned. This is Town’s first-ever visit to the Etihad Stadium, where they'll face one of the best teams the Premier League has ever seen.

City's dominance: 

  • Man City has won 17 of their last 18 Premier League games against promoted sides. The only defeat coming against Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds in 2021.

  • The Citizens are currently on a 45-match unbeaten run at the Etihad across all competitions, having gone unbeaten at home for the entire 2023/24 season.

  • Since drawing 0-0 with Arsenal in March, City have won 10 consecutive Premier League matches, scoring at least two goals in each victory. 

A glimmer of hope: Town's away form last year was impressive, with 42 points from 23 matches. However, their tally of just 33 goals in those fixtures suggests they may struggle to breach City's defence, especially given the champions' incredible home record.

August goal machine: Erling Haaland has netted 13 Premier League goals in August over the last three seasons. That’s more goals than Chelsea (11) and Manchester United (9) have managed in the same period.

What to watch: Phil Foden is expected to start for City after coming off the bench in their 2-0 win at Chelsea. Ipswich are likely to make changes, with Wes Burns doubtful due to a hamstring injury.

New signing Jens Cajuste could push for a starting spot for Ipswich. Aro Muric could also make his Town debut.

Bottom line: While McKenna and his staff have undoubtedly crafted a game plan capable of causing an upset, this match serves as another benchmark for Town against the Premier League's elite. Regardless of the outcome, Ipswich's season won't hinge on this weekend's result.

Ash Read
Ash Read
Mentioned in this article:
Ipswich Town Football Club

Share this article

Support our journalism by sharing it with your friends, family, colleagues and followers

FareShare expands food redistribution network with new Ipswich site

News
Portrait photo of Oliver Rouane-Williams
Oliver Rouane-Williams

FareShare has officially launched its new site in Ipswich, aiming to provide more surplus food to communities in need across the region.

The big picture: FareShare East Anglia is part of the UK's largest food redistribution charity network. Last year, it distributed 1.6 million meals via over 140 organisations across Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire.

Why it matters: The larger facility will allow FareShare to increase its capacity for redistributing food that would otherwise go to waste, supporting local charities and community groups.

Kris Gibbon-Walsh, Rev. Lawrence Carey, Steve Dermody, Cllr Lynne Mortimer, Oliver Paul, Debbie Blacker, Les Dobson and Mike Barrett
Kris Gibbon-Walsh, Rev. Lawrence Carey, Steve Dermody, Cllr Lynne Mortimer, Oliver Paul, Debbie Blacker, Les Dobson and Mike BarrettGlen FarthingRed Wren Studios

Key details:

  • The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on 12 September, attended by local supporters and partners.

  • Deputy Mayor of Ipswich, Councillor Lynne Mortimer, officially opened the new site.

  • The expansion was made possible with support from funders, including Comic Relief.

What they're saying:

  • Mike Barrett, regional manager, FareShare East Anglia: "Opening a larger site, with greater capacity, is going to make a huge difference and we're enormously grateful to all our partners who have helped bring this project to fruition."

  • Kris Gibbon-Walsh, COO of FareShare: "This new bigger warehouse will allow the teams to work safely, whilst really making a difference to our capacity for redistributing food to organisations across the region and beyond."

  • Reverend Lawrence Carey of Triangle Church Ipswich: "The ability to have a regular delivery of food items from FareShare has helped us to offer support to our community through our Top Up Shops."

What's next: FareShare East Anglia is hosting an Open Day on 31 October for prospective partners, suppliers, and organisations interested in receiving food.

The bottom line: The new site will enable FareShare to expand its operations, providing more support to local communities facing food insecurity while reducing food waste.

Portrait photo of Oliver Rouane-Williams
Oliver Rouane-Williams

Share this article

Support our journalism by sharing it with your friends, family, colleagues and followers

Load next article