West Bromwich Albion clinched another confirmation of their Sky Bet Championship safety on Saturday, holding promotion‑chasing Ipswich Town to a goalless draw at the Hawthorns. The result marked the second affirmation of survival in just a week for the Baggies, who had been hit with a two‑point penalty for violating the league's Profitability and Sustainability Rules the previous evening. That deduction left them mathematically exposed to relegation with two games remaining, but the single point earned at home ensured they could no longer be overtaken, consigning Oxford United to the drop and seeing Charlton Athletic beat Hull City earlier in the day. For Ipswich, the stalemate lifted them back into second place, setting up a crucial showdown with fellow top‑two hopeful Southampton on Tuesday night.
The match itself offered a handful of genuine chances but ultimately saw both goalkeepers keep their nets untouched. The first noteworthy attempt came when West Brom midfielder Ousmane Diakite, from roughly 25 yards out, tried a speculative strike that forced Ipswich keeper Christian Walton into a double‑save effort.
Within five minutes a miscommunication between former Baggies defender Cedric Kipre and Walton allowed Ipswich striker Daryl Dike to find space, yet the visiting goalkeeper recovered quickly and blocked the shot with his legs. Later, another ex‑Albion defender, Darnell Furlong, produced a low drive from the edge of the box that inadvertently struck his own teammate Ivan Azon, sending the ball wide of the target. The Tractor Boys (West Brom) missed what might 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, and the ball fell to Azon, who smashed it over the bar from inside the six‑yard line. As the half‑time whistle approached, Danny Imray sent in a curling ball from the right that found Aune Heggebo, who turned and clipped just wide of the far post.
Alex Mowatt then linked up with Dike for a quick one‑two on the edge of the box, 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 flank, delivering a low ball that Dike curled towards goal, only for Walton to produce a spectacular parry. A subsequent long throw from Furlong was flicked on by Greaves, but Jack Clarke, finding himself at the back post with time and space, completely missed the opportunity, allowing the visitors to retain their clean sheet. Ipswich began to dominate possession as the half progressed.
With about 20 minutes left, Max O'Leary spilled a bending strike from substitute Jaden Philogene, and Kipre pounced on the rebound, heading it home—only for the goal to be disallowed by an off‑side flag. Manager Kieran McKenna responded by introducing Wes Burns and George Hirst from the bench, hoping to inject fresh impetus and finally break the deadlock.
However, West Brom's defensive resolve held firm, securing the vital point needed for survival. After the match, West Brom manager 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 us because we understood what was required. I spoke to the players at dinner on the training ground, but they made their intentions clear on the pitch.
Around the 70th minute I sensed the momentum shift, and I wanted to inject energy, but my staff reminded me a 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 short break and then come back ready to finish the season strong. We'll review everything at the end, but until then I'm staying with the lads. I think I’ll enjoy a nice beer tonight." Ipswich boss 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 getting a 0‑0 at half‑time was crucial; we haven't performed that well away from home this season. There were moments of real determination. Christian Walton made a vital save, and we improved our ball movement in the second half, pressing higher to win the ball back quicker.
In the final thirty minutes we were the team pushing for the win. Whether this point proves decisive we'll find out next weekend.
The league is brutal. West Brom are a strong 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 bouncy, which added to the difficulty.
A point on a day like today is something we can build on." Beyond the on‑field action, the match also featured promotional elements: a £250,000 prize pool was available through the Super 6 competition, free to enter, with entries closing at 3 pm on Saturday. The Sky Sports app and NOW platform offered live streaming options for fans wishing to follow the EFL action.
The draw ensured West Brom's place in the Championship for the next season, allowing them to focus on rebuilding and aiming for a stronger campaign ahead, while Ipswich remain firmly in the promotion race, eyeing the upcoming clash with Southampton as a potential turning point in their quest for a return to the Premier League.