West Bromwich Albion once more confirmed their place in the Sky Bet Championship, clinching safety for a second time within a single week by drawing 0-0 against promotion‑chasing Ipswich Town at The Hawthorns on Saturday. The result came just days after the club was handed a two‑point deduction for breaching the league’s Profitability and Sustainability Regulations, a sanction that left them mathematically exposed to relegation with only two games remaining in the campaign. However, the single point earned at home meant that the Baggies could no longer be overtaken, sealing Oxford United’s relegation and leaving Charlton Athletic’s victory over Hull City to confirm the latter’s drop as well. For Ipswich, the stalemate was a step back, but it nevertheless lifted them back into second place in the table.
All eyes now turn to their upcoming clash with fellow top‑two hopeful Southampton on Tuesday evening, a fixture that could prove decisive in the race for automatic promotion. The match itself offered a handful of genuine chances despite the final scoreline.
The first real shot came from West Brom midfielder Ousmane Diakité, who tried a speculative strike from around 25 yards. Ipswich keeper Christian Walton had to make two separate saves to deny the effort.
Within five minutes, a miscommunication between former Baggies defender Cedric Kipré and Walton allowed Ipswich striker Daryl Dike to find space, but Walton recovered quickly and blocked the attempt with his legs. Later, another ex‑West Brom player, Darnell Furlong, seemed to threaten his old club when a low drive from the edge of the box hit teammate Ivan Azón and veered 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; although McAteer’s connection was imperfect, the ball fell to Azón, who struck over the bar from inside the six‑yard box. West Brom came close to taking the lead just before the break. A right‑wing delivery from Danny Imray curled into the path of Aune Heggebø, who turned and fired a shot that narrowly missed the far post. Shortly after, Alex Mowatt executed a clever one‑two with Dike on the edge of the area, prompting Walton to make a low‑drive save.
The second half began with Ipswich pressing more aggressively. Early on, Jayson Molumby and Imray combined down the right flank, and Dike’s low ball was curled towards goal, only for Walton to produce a spectacular parry.
A long throw from Furlong was glanced on by Greaves, but Jack Clarke, finding himself at the back post with time and space, completely missed the chance, leaving the visitors empty‑handed. As the half progressed, Ipswich began to dominate possession and create clearer opportunities. With about 20 minutes remaining, Max O'Leary spilled a curling strike from substitute Jaden Philogene, and Kipré pounced on the rebound, heading it home – only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
In response, Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna introduced Wes Burns and George Hirst from the bench, seeking fresh impetus and a breakthrough, but West Brom’s defence held firm, preserving the point that guaranteed survival. After the final whistle, West Brom captain James Morrison reflected on the drama surrounding the club. "We had a cloud hanging over us, and it finally cleared. We knew exactly where we stood after the points deduction, but we focused on the football.
The lads were in a good place, so we just kept going. It helped us because we knew what we had to do.
We talked to the players over dinner at the training ground, but they made their intentions clear on the pitch. Around the 70‑minute mark I could feel the momentum shift – the substitutes brought fresh energy, and my staff reminded me that a single point was all we needed. The players left everything out there. I want to stay unbeaten, and the players feel the same.
We'll have a day off tomorrow and Monday, then come back ready to finish the season strong. We'll reflect at the end and work hard to get it right, but I'll stay with the lads until the end of the season.
I’m going to have a nice beer tonight," he said with a smile. Ipswich’s McKenna was equally candid about his side’s performance. "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 getting a 0‑0 at half‑time was important – we haven’t done that well away from home this season. There were moments of resilience; we needed a good save from Christian, and we moved the ball better in the second half.
We pressed earlier, which helped us win the ball back quicker, and in the last half‑hour we were the team pushing for the win. You won’t know if it’s a good point until next weekend. It’s a brutal league.
West Brom are a good side – they’re on a ten‑game unbeaten run with seven clean sheets. The conditions weren’t ideal – the pitch was bumpy and the heat made it difficult to play fluid football.
A point on a day like today is something we can build on," McKenna added. The match also featured promotional elements, reminding fans that the £250,000 Super 6 prize pool remains up for grabs and that entry is free until 3 pm on Saturday. Overall, the draw not only secured West Brom’s safety but also highlighted the fine margins that define the Championship, where a single point can determine the fate of multiple clubs.