EFL Championship: Can Ipswich Take a Step Closer to the Premier League?

The Championship is set for a thrilling Tuesday night, with crucial matches taking place at both ends of the table. Ipswich Town, chasing promotion, visit relegation-threatened Portsmouth, while high-flying Southampton host Blackburn at St Mary's. Key games are also scheduled in League One and League Two, as the season nears its climax. Portsmouth, initially set to host Ipswich in January, saw the fixture postponed twice due to weather conditions. However, with favorable weather forecasted for Tuesday, the match is expected to proceed. Portsmouth have shown improvement in form, earning five points from their last three games, including a dramatic win at Middlesbrough. Ipswich, meanwhile, enjoyed a significant win over rivals Norwich and are in control of second place in the table. A win at Portsmouth would extend their lead over third-placed Millwall to five points. In another crucial match, Southampton, on a five-game winning streak, host Blackburn. The Saints' victory over Derby lifted them to fifth, and another win would mark their sixth consecutive league victory. Blackburn, however, are under pressure, having stalled in their push away from the relegation zone with back-to-back draws. Elsewhere, Bolton aim to build momentum for the play-offs as they host sixth-placed Stevenage in League One, while Cardiff City can move closer to promotion with a win at Huddersfield. In League Two, Barrow host Oldham, and Chesterfield face Grimsby in a crucial top-seven matchup.