West Bromwich Albion clinched their Sky Bet Championship safety for a second occasion within a single week when they held promotion hopefuls Ipswich Town to a goalless draw at The Hawthorns on Saturday. The result came just days after the club was penalised with a two‑point deduction for breaching the league's Profitability and Sustainability Rules, a sanction that left them mathematically exposed to relegation with only two fixtures remaining. By salvaging a point in this match, the Baggies ensured that they could no longer be overtaken, confirming Oxford United's relegation and seeing Charlton Athletic also beat Hull City on the same afternoon.
For Ipswich, the stalemate meant a return to second place in the table, setting up a high‑stakes showdown with fellow top‑two challengers Southampton on Tuesday evening. The game itself featured a handful of genuine chances but ultimately saw both goalkeepers keep their sheets clean.
The first notable attempt came from West Brom midfielder Ousmane Diakite, who unleashed a speculative strike from roughly 25 yards. Ipswich keeper Christian Walton had to make two saves before finally parrying the effort away. Just five minutes later, a miscommunication between former Baggies defender Cedric Kipre and Walton gave striker Daryl Dike a glimpse of a one‑on‑one opportunity. Dike surged forward, only for Walton to recover swiftly and block the shot with his legs.
A subsequent chance involved another ex‑Albion player, Darnell Furlong, whose low drive from the edge of the box struck his own teammate Ivan Azon and veered wide of the post. The most promising opening of the first half arrived when 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 smashed it over the bar from inside the six‑yard box.
West Brom came close to taking the lead just before the interval when Danny Imray’s right‑wing delivery curled into the path of Aune Heggebo, who turned and struck just wide of the far post. Alex Mowatt then orchestrated a clever one‑two with Dike on the edge of the area, forcing Walton to dive away from a low drive.
Early in the second half, Jayson Molumby and Imray combined down the right flank, delivering a low ball that Dike curled toward goal, only for Walton to produce a superb parry. Furlong’s long throw was glanced on by Greaves, but Jack Clarke, finding himself with time and space at the back post, completely missed the opportunity, allowing the visitors to retain their clean sheet. As the second half progressed, Ipswich began to dominate possession and create more chances. With around 20 minutes remaining, Max O'Leary spilled a bending strike from substitute Jaden Philogene, and Kipre pounced on the rebound, heading the ball into the net—only for the goal to be disallowed by an off‑side flag.
Kieran McKenna, the Ipswich manager, responded by introducing Wes Burns and George Hirst from the bench, hoping to inject fresh urgency and finally break the deadlock. Despite the added impetus, West Brom’s defence held firm, preserving the point that guaranteed their survival. After the final whistle, West Brom captain James Morrison reflected on the drama: "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 headspace, so we just kept pushing. It helped us because we understood what we needed to do.
We talked to the players over dinner at the training ground, but they made it clear what they wanted on the pitch. After about the 70th minute I could feel the momentum shift. The substitutes brought fresh energy, and my staff reminded me that a single point was enough.
The players gave 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 strong.
We'll reflect at the end, work hard to get things right, and I'll stay with the squad until the final whistle. I'm definitely having a nice beer tonight." Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna also weighed in: "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 withstand pressure and getting to half‑time 0‑0 was important—we haven't been good enough away from home this season.
There were moments of resilience, especially that 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 it’s a good point will be clearer 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 bumpy and the heat made it difficult to play attractive football.
A point on a day like today is something we can build on." The match also featured promotional elements, with Sky Sports reminding fans to download their app and watch the EFL on Sky NOW. Additionally, a £250,000 Super 6 prize was highlighted, with entries closing at 3 pm on Saturday, emphasizing that participation remains free of charge. Overall, the draw not only sealed West Brom's place in the Championship for another season but also set the stage for a crucial Ipswich clash with Southampton, a fixture that could determine the final composition of the promotion race as the campaign draws to a close.