West Bromwich Albion clinched their Sky Bet Championship safety for the second time in as many weeks when they held promotion‑chasing Ipswich Town to a goalless draw at the Hawthorns on Saturday. The result came just days after the Baggies were handed a two‑point penalty for breaching the league’s Profitability and Sustainability Regulations, a sanction that left them mathematically exposed to relegation with only two fixtures remaining. By salvaging a point in this match, West Brom ensured that they could no longer be overtaken, confirming Oxford United’s drop to League One and seeing Charlton Athletic also secure a win over Hull City later that afternoon.
For Ipswich, the stalemate meant a return to second place in the table, setting up a crucial showdown with fellow top‑two contenders Southampton on Tuesday evening. Both managers reflected on the intensity of the encounter, which featured a series of chances, defensive lapses, and moments of individual brilliance.
The first genuine shot at goal came when home midfielder Ousmane Diakite tried a speculative long‑range effort from roughly 25 yards out. Ipswich keeper Christian Walton had to make two attempts to claim the ball, eventually smothering the danger.
Within five minutes a miscommunication between former Baggies defender Cedric Kipre and Walton gave striker Daryl Dike a fleeting opening, but the visiting goalkeeper recovered swiftly and blocked the attempt with his legs. Another ex‑West Brom player, Darnell Furlong, briefly raised concerns for his former club when his low drive from the edge of the box struck his own teammate Ivan Azon, who then sent the ball wide of the target. The Tractor Boys later missed what could have been their best chance 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 unleashed a shot from inside the six‑yard box that flew over the crossbar. West Brom came close to taking the lead right before the break when Danny Imray’s right‑wing delivery curled into the path of Aune Heggebo. The striker turned and struck, only to see his effort drift just wide of the far post. Shortly after, Alex Mowatt orchestrated 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 similar intensity. Jayson Molumby and Imray combined down the right flank, feeding a low ball to Dike, whose curling effort was superbly parried by Walton. Furlong’s long throw was flicked on by Greaves, but Jack Clarke, who found himself with space at the back post, failed to make contact, leaving the ball untouched for the visitors.
Ipswich began to dominate possession as the half progressed. With around 20 minutes left, Max O'Leary spilled Jaden Philogene’s bending long‑range strike, and Kipre pounced on the rebound, only for the goal to be ruled out by an offside flag. In response, Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna introduced Wes Burns and George Hirst from the bench, hoping to inject fresh urgency and break the deadlock.
However, West Brom’s defence held firm, preserving the vital point that secured their survival. After the final whistle, West Brom captain James Morrison spoke about the emotional roller‑coaster surrounding the match: "We had a cloud hanging over us, and when it finally lifted we knew exactly where we stood.
The news of the points deduction was tough, but we focused on the football. The lads were in a good headspace, so we just kept pushing.
It helped us because we knew what we needed to do. I talked to the players over dinner at the training ground, but they made their intentions clear on the pitch. After about the 70th minute I could feel the momentum shift – the substitutes were adding energy, and my staff reminded me a point was all we required. The players left everything out there.
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, but I'll stay with the boys until the final whistle.
I’m looking forward to a nice beer tonight." Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna also 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 securing a 0‑0 at half‑time was crucial – we haven’t been that solid away from home this season. There were moments of real resilience.
Christian made a vital save, and we moved the ball better in the second half, pressing earlier to win it back quicker. In the last half‑hour we were the team pushing for a win. Whether it’s a good point we’ll see next weekend.
This league is brutal. West Brom are a quality 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 – but a point on a day like today is something we can build on." The match also highlighted the broader context of the Championship’s competitive landscape, where every point can dramatically alter the fate of clubs fighting for promotion or battling relegation.
With the season drawing to a close, both teams will look to regroup: West Brom aiming to end on a high note and maintain their unbeaten streak, while Ipswich will seek to convert draws into victories as they chase the coveted automatic promotion spots. Off the field, the league continues to engage fans through various promotions, including the Super 6 competition, which offers a £250,000 prize and remains free to enter, with entries closing at 3 pm on Saturday.