West Bromwich Albion once more confirmed their place in the Sky Bet Championship, salvaging a vital point by holding promotion hopeful Ipswich Town to a goalless draw at The Hawthorns on Saturday. The match came on the heels of a two‑point penalty imposed on the Baggies for violating the league's Profitability and Sustainability Regulations, a sanction that left them mathematically exposed to relegation with only two fixtures remaining. By earning this draw, West Brom ensured that Oxford United could no longer overtake them, sealing the latter's drop, while Charlton Athletic also secured a win over Hull City later that afternoon.
For Ipswich, the result lifted them back into second place, keeping the pressure on their rivals Southampton, who they will meet on Tuesday evening in a clash that could decide the top‑two spots. The game’s first genuine chance fell to West Brom midfielder Ousmane Diakite, who unleashed a speculative strike from about 25 yards; Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton required two attempts to tip the ball onto the crossbar. Just five minutes later a miscommunication between former Baggies defender Cedric Kipre and Walton allowed Ipswich striker Daryl Dike to find space, but Walton recovered quickly, smothering the effort with a leg‑save. Another former Albion player, Darnell Furlong, created a fleeting scare for his old club when his low drive from the edge of the box struck teammate Ivan Azon and veered wide.
The Tractor Boys then missed what could have been a prime 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 Azon, who hammered it over the bar from inside the six‑yard box. West Brom came close to taking the lead right before the break. Danny Imray’s right‑wing delivery curled into the path of Aune Heggebo, who turned and fired just wide of the far post.
Shortly after, Alex Mowatt executed a clever one‑two with Dike on the edge of the area, prompting Walton to dive low to parry the resulting shot. The second half began with Ipswich pressing more aggressively. Jayson Molumby and Imray combined down the right, sending a low ball that Dike curled toward goal, only for Walton to produce a spectacular save.
Furlong’s long throw was flicked on by Greaves, but Jack Clarke, who found himself with time and space at the back post, completely missed the chance, leaving the visitors empty‑handed. As the half progressed, Ipswich began to dominate possession. With about 20 minutes left, they thought they had broken the deadlock when Max O'Leary spilled a bending strike from substitute Jaden Philogene. Kipre pounced on the rebound and headed it home, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Manager Kieran McKenna responded by introducing Wes Burns and George Hirst from the bench, hoping to inject fresh impetus and finally carve out a winning goal. West Brom, however, remained disciplined and resolute, protecting the point they needed for survival.
After the final whistle, West Brom captain James Morrison reflected on the drama: "We had a cloud over us all week, and when the points deduction came we knew exactly where we stood. The lads stayed focused on the football, and we just kept grinding. The news gave us a clear target, and after dinner at the training ground we didn’t need many words – the players understood what was required.
Around the 70th minute I sensed the momentum shifting. The substitutions brought fresh energy, and my staff kept reminding me that a single point was enough.
The team gave everything on the pitch. I want to finish the season unbeaten, and the players feel the same. We’ll have a short break tomorrow and Monday, then come back ready to finish strong. After that, I’ll have a nice beer tonight." Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna praised his side’s resilience: "It was a hard‑earned point.
The match was tough for many reasons, and the first half showed they had more momentum and energy. We had to weather some pressure and holding 0‑0 at halftime was crucial – we haven’t been good enough away from home this season. There were moments of real resolve, especially a great save from Christian. In the second half we moved the ball better, pressed earlier, and in the last thirty minutes we were the team pushing for the win.
Whether this point proves decisive we’ll see next weekend. It’s a brutal league, and West Brom are a solid side – they’re on a ten‑game unbeaten run with seven clean sheets.
The pitch was uneven and the heat made it bounce, which made quality football difficult. Still, a point on a day like today is something we can build on." The match also featured promotional reminders: the Sky Sports app was highlighted for fans, and a Super 6 competition offering a £250,000 prize was mentioned, with entries due by 3 pm on Saturday.
Overall, the draw not only secured West Brom’s safety but also kept Ipswich within striking distance of the promotion places, setting the stage for an intense run‑in to the season’s conclusion.