West Bromwich Albion clinched their Sky Bet Championship safety for the second time within a week when they managed to keep promotion‑chasing Ipswich Town at bay, finishing the match at the Hawthorns with a 0-0 stalemate on Saturday. The victory came against a backdrop of drama, as the Baggies had been handed a two‑point penalty on Friday evening for breaching the league's Profitability and Sustainability Rules. That deduction left them mathematically vulnerable to relegation with just two games remaining, but the draw ensured that they could no longer be overtaken, confirming Oxford United's drop and seeing Charlton Athletic also secure a win over Hull City later that day.
For Ipswich, the point lifted them back into second place, keeping the pressure on their rivals Southampton ahead of their crucial Tuesday evening clash. The opening chances of the game were tentative.
West Brom midfielder Ousmane Diakite attempted a speculative strike from around 25 yards, forcing Ipswich keeper Christian Walton to make two saves before the ball was cleared. Within five minutes, a miscommunication between former Baggies defender Cedric Kipre and Walton gave striker Daryl Dike a fleeting opportunity, but the visiting goalkeeper recovered quickly and tipped the ball away with his legs. Another former West Brom player, Darnell Furlong, produced a moment of danger when his low drive from the edge of the box struck his own teammate Ivan Azon, sending the ball wide of the target.
The Tractor Boys then squandered 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 connection was imperfect, and the ball fell to Azon, who blasted over the bar from inside the six‑yard box.
West Brom came close to taking the lead just before the break. Danny Imray sent a curling ball in from the right that found Aune Heggebo, who turned and struck just wide of the far post.
Alex Mowatt then orchestrated a quick one‑two 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. Early on, 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 long throw from Furlong was flicked on by Greaves, but Jack Clarke, who found himself with space at the back post, mishit the ball completely, missing the chance entirely.
As the half progressed, Ipswich began to dominate possession and create clearer chances. With twenty minutes left, Max O'Leary spilled a bending strike from substitute Jaden Philogene. Kipre pounced on the rebound and headed it home, but the goal was ruled out for off‑side, denying the visitors a potential lead.
Kieran McKenna, the Ipswich manager, responded by introducing Wes Burns and George Hirst from the bench in an attempt to inject fresh energy and finally break the deadlock. Despite the increased urgency, West Brom held firm, maintaining their defensive shape and securing the point they needed for survival. After the match, West Brom captain James Morrison reflected on the emotional roller‑coaster: "We had a cloud hanging over us, and it finally lifted.
The points deduction was a huge blow, but we focused on the football. The lads were in a good place, so we just kept going. It helped us because we knew exactly what we had to do.
We talked at dinner on the training ground, but the players made their intentions clear without many words. After about 70 minutes I felt the momentum shift. The substitutes changed the dynamic, and I wanted to add more energy, but my staff reminded me that a single point was all we required. The team left everything on the pitch.
I want to stay unbeaten, and the players feel the same. We'll have a day off tomorrow and Monday, then return ready to finish the season strongly.
We'll reflect at the end, work hard to improve, and I’ll stay with the lads until the final whistle. I’m looking forward to 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 withstand pressure and getting to half‑time 0‑0 was vital – we haven’t performed well enough away from home this season. There were moments of real resilience, especially the 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 a win. Whether it’s a good point will be clear next weekend.
This league is brutal. West Brom are a strong side – they’re on a ten‑game unbeaten run with seven clean sheets.
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 a £250,000 prize up for grabs in the Super 6 competition, free to enter until 3 pm on Saturday. The draw, though uneventful on the scoreboard, proved pivotal for West Brom's survival narrative and set the stage for an intense final stretch of the Championship season.