West Bromwich Albion clinched their Sky Bet Championship status for a second consecutive week after they managed to hold promotion‑chasing Ipswich Town to a goalless stalemate at the Hawthorns on Saturday. The result came just days after the Baggies were handed a two‑point penalty for breaching the league's Profitability and Sustainability Regulations, a sanction that left them mathematically exposed to relegation with only two fixtures remaining in the campaign. That solitary point proved crucial. It ensured that Oxford United could no longer catch up, confirming their drop to League One, while Charlton Athletic also secured a win over Hull City earlier in the afternoon, sealing their own safety.
For Ipswich, the draw lifted them back into second place, setting up a high‑stakes showdown with fellow top‑two hopeful Southampton on Tuesday night. The first genuine chance of the match arrived when West Brom midfielder Ousmane Diakite tried a speculative strike from around 25 yards. Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton had to make two attempts to claim the ball, ultimately denying the effort. Within five minutes a miscommunication between former Baggies defender Cedric Kipre and Walton gave striker Daryl Dike a fleeting opening, but the visiting keeper recovered quickly and saved with his legs.
Another ex‑Baggies player, Darnell Furlong, briefly threatened his old club when his low drive from the edge of the box glanced off teammate Ivan Azon and sailed wide. The Tractor Boys then missed what could have been their best opening of the first half.
Jacob Greaves delivered a deep cross to Kasey McAteer on the far side of the penalty area; McAteer’s touch was imperfect, the ball fell to Azon, who then blasted over the bar from inside the six‑yard box. West Brom came close to taking the lead just before the interval.
Danny Imray’s right‑wing delivery spun into the path of Aune Heggebo, who turned and struck a shot that drifted just wide of the far post. Shortly after, Alex Mowatt combined neatly with Dike on the edge of the area, forcing Walton to make a low‑drive save. The second half began with Ipswich pressing more aggressively.
Jayson Molumby and Imray combined down the right, delivering a low ball that Dike curled towards goal, only for Walton to produce another spectacular parry. Furlong’s long throw was flicked on by Greaves, but Jack Clarke, who found himself with time and space at the back post, failed to make contact, squandering a clear opportunity.
As the half progressed, Ipswich began to dominate possession and create more chances. With about 20 minutes left, Max O'Leary spilled a curling strike from substitute Jaden Philogene. Kipre pounced on the rebound and headed it home, only for the goal to be ruled out for off‑side. In response, Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna introduced Wes Burns and George Hirst from the bench, hoping to inject fresh energy and finally break the deadlock.
However, West Brom’s defence held firm, preserving the point that guaranteed their survival. After the match, West Brom captain James Morrison reflected on the drama: "We had a cloud hanging over us, and it finally lifted. We knew exactly where we stood after the points deduction, but we kept our focus on the football.
The lads were in a good mental place, so we just kept pushing. It helped that we knew what we needed to do. I spoke to the players over dinner at the training ground, but they made their intentions clear without much prompting. Around the 70th minute I sensed the momentum shift – the substitutes were making an impact, and I wanted to add some energy, but my staff reminded me that a single point was all we required.
The players left everything on the pitch. I want to stay unbeaten, and the boys feel the same. We'll have a couple of days off before returning to finish the season strong. We'll review everything at the end, work hard to get it right, and I'll stay with the squad until the final whistle.
Tonight, I think I'll enjoy a nice beer." Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna praised his side’s resilience: "It was a hard‑earned point. The game was tough for many reasons, and the first half showed they had more momentum and energy. We had to weather some pressure and holding a 0‑0 scoreline at half‑time was vital – we haven't been strong enough away from home this season.
There were moments of real grit. Christian made a crucial save, and we improved our ball movement in the second half, pressing higher to win the ball back quicker.
In the final half‑hour we were the team pushing for a winner. Whether this point will prove decisive, we'll find out next weekend. This league is brutal.
West Brom are a quality side – they're on a ten‑game unbeaten run with seven clean sheets. The conditions weren’t ideal; the pitch was uneven and the heat made it difficult to play fluid football. A point on a day like today is something we can build on." The match also featured promotional elements, with Sky Sports encouraging viewers to download its app and watch the EFL on Sky via NOW. Additionally, a £250,000 Super 6 prize was advertised, with entries open until 3 pm on Saturday, free of charge.
The draw ensured West Brom could breathe a sigh of relief, while Ipswich remain in contention for promotion, setting the stage for an exciting climax to the season.