West Bromwich Albion locked in their Sky Bet Championship status for the second time in just a week after they held promotion‑chasing Ips Ipswich Town to a goalless stalemate at The Hawthorns on Saturday. The draw was enough to guarantee that the Baggies could not be overtaken in the table, confirming their safety with two matches still to play. The backdrop to the fixture was dramatic.
On Friday evening the club were handed a two‑point penalty for breaching the league's Profitability and Sustainability Rules. The sanction left them mathematically exposed to the threat of relegation, at least on paper, with only two games remaining. Yet the point earned at The Hawthorns meant that Oxford United were now mathematically doomed, and Charlton Athletic's victory over Hull City at lunchtime sealed Oxford's fate as well.
For Ipswich, the draw lifted them back into second place, setting up a crucial showdown with fellow top‑two hopefuls Southampton on Tuesday evening. Both sides know that a win could dramatically reshape the promotion picture, and the stakes remain high as the season draws to its climax. The match itself offered several moments of genuine excitement despite the final scoreline.
The first real chance came when West Brom midfielder Ousmane Diakite, a player who grew up in the academy, unleashed a speculative strike from about 25 yards. Ipswich keeper Christian Walton had to make two separate saves to keep the ball out of his net, highlighting the sharpness of the shot. Within five minutes a second opportunity materialised. A miscommunication between former Baggies defender Cedric Kipre and Walton allowed Ipswich forward Daryl Dike to get a clear run on goal.
Dike's low drive was met by Walton, who managed to block the ball with his legs, averting a potentially dangerous opening goal. Later, another ex‑West Brom player, Darnell Furlong, found himself in an awkward position when his low drive from the edge of the box struck his own teammate Ivan Azon and ricocheted wide of the far post.
The incident underscored the fine margins that often decide matches in this tightly contested division. The home side also missed a golden chance early in the first half.
Jacob Greaves delivered a deep cross to Kasey McAteer on the far side of the penalty area. McAteer’s connection was imperfect, and the ball fell to Azon, who, from inside the six‑yard box, hammered a shot over the crossbar. West Brom came close to taking the lead just before the break.
Danny Imray sent in a curling delivery from the right that found Aune Heggebo, who turned and struck the ball, only to see it sail just wide of the far post. The half‑hour mark also saw Alex Mowatt execute a quick 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 higher up the pitch.
Jayson Molumby and Imray combined down the right flank, and Imray’s low ball was whipped goalwards by Dike. Walton again produced a spectacular parry, keeping the scores level. West Brom’s long‑throw specialist, Furlong, launched a ball that was glanced on by Greaves, but Jack Clarke, who found himself with time and space at the back post, completely missed the chance, sending the ball wide of the target.
As the second half progressed, Ipswich began to dominate possession and create more clear‑cut chances. With roughly 20 minutes left, Max O'Leary spilled a bending strike from substitute Jaden Philogene.
Kipre pounced on the rebound and headed the ball home, only for the goal to be disallowed by the assistant referee for offside. In an attempt to inject fresh energy, Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna introduced Wes Burns and George Hirst from the bench. Their presence added urgency, but West Brom’s defensive resolve held firm, and the point was enough to cement their survival. After the final whistle, West Brom captain James Morrison reflected on the ordeal: "We had a cloud hanging over us, and when it finally lifted we knew exactly where we stood.
The points deduction was a blow, but we focused on the football. The lads were in a good mental place, so we just kept going. It helped us because we knew what we had to do.
I spoke to the players at dinner on the training ground, but they made their intentions clear without me having to say much. After the 70th minute I could feel the momentum shift. The substitutes we brought on added fresh energy, and my staff kept reminding me that a single point was all we needed. The players left everything on the pitch.
I want to stay unbeaten, and the lads feel the same. We'll have a day off tomorrow and Monday, then come back ready to finish the season strongly. We'll reflect at the end and work hard to get things right.
I'm going to have a nice beer tonight, though." Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna also weighed in: "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 withstand pressure and getting to half‑time 0‑0 was important, especially because we haven't performed well away from home this season.
There were moments of resilience, and we needed a good save from Christian. In the second half we moved the ball better, pressed earlier and regained possession quicker.
In the final half hour we were the team pushing for a win. Whether this point proves decisive we will find out 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 pitch conditions and the heat made it difficult to play our best football. A point on a day like today is something we can build on." The match also featured promotional content for Sky Sports, reminding fans to download the Sky Sports app and watch EFL on Sky with NOW. Additionally, a Super 6 competition offering a £250,000 prize was highlighted, with entries closing at 3 pm on Saturday.