Ipswich Town manager Paul Lambert has issued a high amount of praise for West Bromwich Albion, speaking ahead of the Tractor Boys' trip to the Hawthorns this weekend.

The Baggies will be looking to bounce back with a win after a very disappointing 4-0 loss to Leeds United last Friday - the result at Elland Road leaves Albion sitting seven points off the automatic promotion places, with just 11 games left to play this campaign.

Darren Moore's men have lost ground on the top two having lost to both Leeds and Sheffield United in the last two weeks, but despite their recent slump, Lambert has said that he still believes that the West Midlands side will "be far from automatic promotion" come the end of the season, and has also praised the job that Moore has done at the helm.

If Albion are to pick up three points and get back to winning ways this weekend, then they have the perfect opportunity to do so in front of their home crowd.

Ipswich still sit at the bottom of the Sky Bet Championship table having won just three league games all season, with the Tractor Boys sitting 12 points adrift of safety.

The Verdict

It's a very fair comment from Lambert, whose side look destined to drop into League One this season after a torrid year all round.

Defeats to Leeds and Sheffield United have really put a downer on West Brom's automatic promotion chances, and they have come at the completely wrong time.

But they have enough in their squad to fight right until the end, and have the ability to push Norwich, Leeds and Sheffield United all the way.