Ipswich Town hunt for their first win of the season in their final game before the international break, welcoming an injury-stricken Derby County to Suffolk.
EFL Championship
Our Three Predictions For Ipswich Town vs Derby County
- Prediction 1 – George Hirst To Score – 13/8
- Prediction 2 – Over 2.5 Goals Scored – 1/1
- Prediction 3 – Ipswich Town To Win – 13/10
First Prediction For Ipswich Town vs Derby County – George Hirst To Score – 13/8
Ipswich have had the benefit of a full week of rest heading into this home game due to their elimination from the EFL Cup, unlike their visitors. George Hirst is still yet to make a major impact since stepping up as the Tractor Boys’ leading striker, but is crucially off the mark after their opening day draw against Birmingham City. Across their opening three games, Hirst has an xG of 2.06 putting him in the top 6% of forwards within the Championship created from seven shots. Only Queens Park Rangers have conceded more than Derby so far this season in the second tier, and have not kept a clean sheet since the final day of last season against Stoke City. This is certainly Hirst’s best chance of adding to his penalty against Birmingham, but must improve his shots on target rate in order to find the net at Portman Road.
Second Prediction For Ipswich Town vs Derby County – Over 2.5 Goals Scored – 1/1
However, Ipswich have struggled in their opening games to find goals. Town are just one of five teams who have fewer goals than games played in the Championship this season, despite the talents of players like Hirst and Jaden Philogene. Derby, however, have found success up front with new summer signing Carlton Morris, with three goals in as many games but the former Luton Town man’s impact has been stifled by poor defensive performances from his own team. That inconsistency at the back for the Rams could allow Ipswich’s forward line to finally get off of the mark, and lead to an open game. This, plus the break that Town have had over the week, means there could be a high-scoring match akin to County’s 3-5 loss to Coventry City on the cards.
Third Prediction For Ipswich Town vs Derby County – Ipswich Town To Win – 13/10
Whilst both teams have their injury concerns, for Derby, it is much more severe, with seven key first-team players injured for this match combined with many starters playing in the midweek loss to Burnley. The Rams’ squad being threadbare combined with a well-rested and recently reinforced Ipswich squad gives the Tractor Boys a decisive edge in this contest. If County can pull anything out of the bag in this game, it is likely to come through Carlton Morris, but Kieran McKenna’s side should be able to shut him down and claim their first win of the season with a home advantage. John Eustace lost the only game he has played against the club in his managerial career whilst in charge of Blackburn Rovers two seasons ago.
Best Odds For Ipswich Town vs Derby County
| Bookmaker | Ipswich Town | Draw | Derby County |
| Betarno | 52/100 | 29/10 | 5/1 |
| Gentleman Jim | 1/2 | 3/1 | 11/2 |
| Myriadplay | 13/10 | 9/4 | 21/10 |
Full Preview Of The Game: Last Results And Head-To-Head
Ipswich Town are still on the lookout for their first win of the season, having gone four games into the season without tasting victory. That has extended their winless run to 13 games, last beating a side at the start of April when they beat AFC Bournemouth away in the Premier League. Due to their elimination from the EFL Cup in the first round at the hands of League Two’s Bromley, Town have had a full week’s rest since their last match, a narrow 1-0 loss to Preston North End at Deepdale. However, Kieran McKenna and his staff have worked hard to continue recruitment this season, with Marcelino Nunez making the controversial move across East Anglia from Norwich City. He is the third signing of the week for the Tractor Boys, having also recruited Darnell Furlong from West Bromwich Albion and FC Como’s Ivan Azon on a season-long loan. However, Nunez is unlikely to feature due to an ankle injury sustained playing for Norwich against Portsmouth.
Derby County have plenty of injury issues to contend with heading to Suffolk, with as many as seven players out of action for the trip. Another concern emerged in their most recent game which saw them knocked out of the EFL Cup second round by Burnley, in the form of a groin problem for Callum Elder, but John Eustace is hopeful it is not too concerning. Patrick Agyemang and Lars-Jorgen Salvesen have both returned to training earlier this week, meaning that the Rams are now over the hill in terms of a crisis. In terms of results, County are also yet to win this season, having lost three times and drawn twice, the first of which was a penalty shootout win over West Brom in the EFL Cup first round.
These two sides last met three years ago in League One, during Town’s first promotion under Kieran McKenna. It was the Tractor Boys who won both fixtures that season with clean sheets, and have a three-game unbeaten streak, having also drawn the last meeting in 2019. They have been regular opponents until the Suffolk side’s ascension to the top flight in recent years, with 20 matches since 2010. Ipswich have the slight edge with nine wins to Derby’s seven, with four draws.
Leigh Doughty will officiate this match at Portman Road, his sixth appointment of the season. He has refereed in the Championship just once so far this season, overseeing Middlesbrough‘s away win over Norwich, in which he handed out three yellow cards and a straight red for Jacob Wright. He has also refereed in League One twice and in both rounds of the EFL Cup, with his most recent fixture in the middle being Bradford City’s dominant win over Stoke City in midweek.
Confrontation
07/02/2026
Championship Championship
Derby
Ipswich
1
2
30/08/2025
Championship Championship
Ipswich
Derby
2
2
01/04/2023
League One League One
Derby County
Ipswich Town
0
2
21/10/2022
League One League One
Ipswich Town
Derby County
1
0
Last Results - Ipswich 
13/02/2026
FA Cup FA Cup
Wrexham
Ipswich
1
0
L
07/02/2026
Championship Championship
Derby
Ipswich
1
2
W
31/01/2026
Championship Championship
Ipswich
Preston
1
1
D
24/01/2026
Championship Championship
Sheffield Utd
Ipswich
3
1
L
20/01/2026
Championship Championship
Ipswich
Bristol City
2
0
W
Last Results - Derby
14/02/2026
Championship Championship
Derby
Swansea
2
0
W
07/02/2026
Championship Championship
Derby
Ipswich
1
2
L
30/01/2026
Championship Championship
Bristol City
Derby
0
5
W
23/01/2026
Championship Championship
Derby
West Brom
1
1
D
20/01/2026
Championship Championship
Charlton
Derby
1
2
W
Where To Watch Ipswich Town vs Derby County
Where can I watch the game, either on TV or in person?
- Location: Portman Road Stadium, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 2DA
- Date: August 30th, 2025
This game is unavailable to watch in the UK, with kick-off at 3 pm.
Probable Lineups For Ipswich Town vs Derby County
What sort of lineup can we expect from this important EFL Championship clash?
Predicted Ipswich Town Lineup
- Lineup: Palmer; Johnson, O’Shea, Greaves, Davis; Cajuste, Matusiwa; J. Clarke, Szmodics, Philogene-Bidace; Hirst
- Injured/Suspended: Nunez, H. Clarke, Al Hamadi, Townsend, Burns
- Manager: Kieran McKenna
Predicted Derby County Lineup
- Lineup: Zetterstrom; Sanderson, Batth, Clarke; Nyambe, Thompson, Ozoh, Elder; Clark; Morris, Adams
- Injured/Suspended: Beck, Blackett-Taylor, Nelson, Langas, Agyemang, Salvesen, Elder, Wilson
- Manager: John Eustace
