Ipswich Town remain firmly in the hunt for automatic promotion, but former striker Don Goodman believes one issue could still hold them back.
Speaking to Grosvenor Casinos, he praised the strength of the squad but warned that their inconsistent away form may prove costly during the run‑in. With several difficult trips still to come, he feels Ipswich must find another level if they want to avoid slipping into the play‑offs.
Squad Strength Isn’t the Issue
Goodman was clear that Ipswich Town’s quality isn’t in doubt:
“I think we all acknowledge that Ipswich Town have the best squad in the Championship. I cannot have anybody tell me otherwise. They have the most players in each position of a certain quality.”
“They have the best squad, but they have not been the best team. They have not produced consistent performances week in, week out. Middlesbrough have dominated all but two of their last 22 games. I can’t say the same about Ipswich.”
His view is that Ipswich have the depth and talent to go up, but haven’t always shown it consistently enough.
A Clear Difference Between Home and Away
Goodman highlighted the contrast between Ipswich Town’s strong home form and their more unpredictable results on the road:
“They also seem to be very different when playing at home compared to playing away. Their first half against Stoke City recently was a disaster. I agree with Kieran McKenna that the penalty decision at the end was shocking, but that is beside the point. Over the whole game, did they deserve to win? Based on the first half and the second half, I do not think they did.”
He then broke down the numbers that concern him most:
“What I am saying is that Ipswich at home have won 12 of their 20 games and lost only once. Away from home, they have won seven out of 18 (drawing five and losing six). That is not what the very best teams do.”
Goodman compared Ipswich’s away record to that of recent promotion winners:
“If you compare that with teams like Leeds United (W11 D9 L3), Burnley (W14 D7 L2) or Sheffield United (W13 D4 L6) last season, I am sure their away records were better.”
A Tough Run of Fixtures Ahead
Goodman also pointed to the difficulty of Ipswich Town’s remaining away matches:
“Ipswich’s next two away games are Southampton and Norwich City. Southampton are one of the best teams in the league at the moment and Norwich are in the same bracket right now.
“Charlton Athletic away is never easy, and then there are trips to West Brom and Portsmouth, who are both fighting near the bottom. Those are the five away games Ipswich have left. Can I see them winning all five? Not a chance in reality.”
It’s a demanding schedule, and he believes it will define their season.
Promotion or Play-Offs? The Decisive Moments Are Coming
Despite his concerns, Goodman made it clear that Ipswich Town still have everything they need to go up if they can find consistency:
“I think how they perform against Middlesbrough (at home), Southampton and Norwich will determine whether they secure automatic promotion or end up in the play-offs. The ball is in their court. They have the quality and they have the ability, but at times they have underwhelmed.”
It’s a challenge rather than a criticism. Ipswich have the squad, the manager and the momentum, but Goodman believes the final step requires a stronger away showing.
Hannah Darbyshire
I am a 19 year old freelance football writer who covers Ipswich Town’s women’s, men’s, and academy teams. A regular at Portman Road and club fixtures across Suffolk, she brings clear, grounded match coverage shaped by a genuine connection to the game.