The level of goodwill around Ipswich Town at the end of last season wasn’t befitting of a club that amassed just five league wins in the 2018/19 season, of a club that finished below a Bolton Wanderers side plagued by off-field issues. Paul Lambert found a way to develop a connection between club and fans that has been missing in recent years. Now in League One, Lambert has also found a way to recapture that winning feeling.
Given that Town endured a torrid second half to the 2017/18 season, it has been a long time since fans in Portman Road could arrive with reasonable confidence of a home win. Any fears about how Ipswich would adapt to the pressure of expectations in League One have been banished by a start that saw Town rack up four wins and two draws in their first six league matches.
As a result, football betting sites like Space Casino rank Ipswich among the favourites for the League One title, with the Blues currently available at a price of 9/2. While Sunderland are fancied as an outright in some markets, Ipswich fans will be optimistic that they can return to the second tier as champions. There is a long way to go, but Ipswich have every chance of sustaining their fine form.
Scoring strikers
A deadly goalscorer can be what propels a side from mid-table to the top six. That was the case with Daryl Murphy and Ipswich in 2014/15, but the Blues have lacked a lethal finisher in recent seasons. Now, however, they have two. Kayden Jackson struggled in his debut campaign for Town, but he has found it easier to exploit League One defences with his sensational pace.
Former Tranmere striker James Norwood was the joint top goalscorer in English football last season, an accolade he shared with Sergio Aguero. Norwood has already notched five goals for Ipswich, while Jackson has bagged four; that's as many as he managed in all of last season. What’s better than one prolific goalscorer? Two prolific goalscorers, who can cover each other’s injuries and dry spells.
Young stars
Flynn Downes has been ever-present in league matches this season, dominating the midfield, while Luke Woolfenden looks assured and commanding at the back. Both players received recognition as two of the six players highlighted by The Guardian in their analysis of young talent in Leagues One and Two.
Nine academy players made the squad in a 2-1 win over Spurs U21 in the EFL Trophy, with tricky forward Armando Dobra particularly impressive. That these young players have shown they can handle the rigours of third-tier football will have fans hopeful that they can continue to grow under Lambert’s tutelage, to be ready to make the step up to the Championship next summer.
Strength in depth
Town’s bench for their 3-0 win over Shrewsbury included remarkable depth for a third-tier side. Gwion Edwards and Jon Nolan were standout performers in League One two years ago. England U20 international Andre Dozzell is continually courted by Premier League clubs, while a fit-again Emyr Huws is Championship quality.
That strength in depth is not normal for a League One side, while the Blues have Will Keane, Freddie Sears and Teddy Bishop to return from injury. Optimism is high at Portman Road, but optimism breeds higher expectations. Fans that may have been cautious about Town’s transition to the third tier have seen their squad handle the drop with confidence.
Anything less than automatic promotion would now be a disappointment for many fans. That is the pressure that comes from having a strong start, firing strikers, and a well-rounded squad. Lambert is canny enough to handle that pressure, while early signs suggest his young Ipswich stars can continue to thrive.