Someone asked for more after the look at Rotherham's stats, so blame them:
Form
Ipswich have five points from their last six games (Oxford have nine). Their only win in that period came against Accrington at the weekend. They were 3-0 up at half time, which must be a painful humiliation for the other team.
They have 24 points from 13 away games. Only Rotherham have more (26).
Style of play
They are the fourth highest scorers in L1 with 37 (Oxford 42). Their 20 goals away from home are also fourth best.
However, they are 12th in shots per game (Oxford are fifth). They drop to 18th when looking at away games only. They strongly favour shots from inside the six yard box.
They are fourth highest in aerial duals won (Oxford 20th, Rotherham are obviously first). They score from set pieces a lot.
Ipswich enjoy the third highest share of posession in the division (Oxford obviously first). Interesting that they are 11th in pass accuracy (Oxford are obviously first). Since possession is basically a count of your total passes, Ipswich may take chances with direct or long passes, and they must be good at winning the ball back.
Ipswich dribble the ball more than anyone else in the league away from home.
They have the meanest defence in the league, conceding 23 (Oxford 25) overall. They make a lot of tackles and interceptions away from home.
Ipswich are level with Sunderland as the worst disciplinary record in the league (51 yellow, 3 red). They commit the most fouls per game (Oxford third).
Highlights
I watched the YouTube short highlights from three recent games.
Accrington (h) – won 4-1:
Opened the scoring with a passing move, taking the ball from one side to the other, before playing it down the flank and across the face of the goal for a tap in. Super goal. Second goal was a punt forwards and Norwood chipped the keeper. Third goal a chip into box, knock down and shot. Fourth they stole the ball from a defender. Conceded a penalty. Overall a real mix, but were clearly willing to play a long ball.
Wycombe (a) – drew 1-1:
Scored from a Garbutt free kick on the left, headed in from about six yards out. They pulled a cute move with one player putting the ball down, and another immediately taking the kick, catching Wycombe out. Conceded the ‘Wycombe goal’ – Akinfenwa knock on to other striker.
Lincoln (a) – lost 5-3:
Garbutt FK. Then a short corner, headed in. Third was a passing move worked down the right and then into the box for a shot.
Conceded to long ball and run/pass, a long ball to the striker through on goal, a dribble and pass across the face of goal, a short corner and a passing move on the counter.
Summary
Ipswich are capable of playing passing football, and they seem to favour moves that work the ball out wide and then across the face of goal. We will need to track wide players. However, they are also happy to hit the ball long when the opportunity presents itself. Ipswich pick their opportunities, scoring plenty from fewer shots.
Set pieces are a danger, and we need to be really switched on to quick restarts.
From two minutes of footage, Lincoln had joy with direct football and players running hard towards goal. Ipswich commit plenty of fouls. Browne, Fosu, Holland, over to you.