West Bromwich Albion reaffirmed their place in the Sky Bet Championship for a second time in as many weeks after they held promotion‑chasing Ipswich Town to a goalless stalemate at The Hawthorns on Saturday. The result came just days after the Baggies were 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 games remaining.
However, the single point earned in this match meant that they could no longer be overtaken, consigning Oxford United to the drop and leaving Charlton Athletic still clinging to safety after their midday victory over Hull City. For Ipswich, the draw lifted them back into second place, setting up a high‑stakes clash with fellow top‑two hopefuls Southampton on Tuesday evening. The match itself offered a handful of genuine chances but ultimately remained a tight, cagey affair. The first noteworthy attempt came when West Brom midfielder Ousmane Diakite unleashed a speculative strike from roughly 25 yards; Ipswich keeper Christian Walton had to make two reflex saves before the ball finally went out of play.
Within five minutes, a miscommunication between former Baggies defender Cedric Kipre and Walton allowed Ipswich forward Daryl Dike to find space inside the box, but the visiting goalkeeper recovered quickly and blocked the effort with his legs. Another former Albion defender, Darnell Furlong, briefly raised concerns for his old club when his low drive from the edge of the area struck his own teammate Ivan Azon and veered wide of the far post. The Tractor Boys then missed what could have been a prime opening of the first half: Jacob Greaves sent 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 box.
West Brom were on the verge of taking the lead just before the interval when Danny Imray delivered a curling ball from the right that found Aune Heggebo, who turned and struck just wide of the far post. Shortly after, Alex Mowatt combined with Dike in a quick one‑two on the edge of the area, prompting Walton to make a low‑drive save. The second half began with Ipswich pressing more aggressively.
Jayson Molumby and Imray linked up down the right, delivering a low ball that Dike curled towards goal, only for Walton to pull off a spectacular parry. Furlong’s long throw was flicked 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 the point.
Ipswich grew into the game as the half progressed. With around 20 minutes left, they thought they had broken the deadlock: Max O'Leary spilled a bending strike from substitute Jaden Philogene, and Kipre pounced on the rebound, 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 energy and finally find the breakthrough.
West Brom, however, remained disciplined and resilient, safeguarding their hard‑won survival. After the final whistle, West Brom captain James Morrison reflected on the emotional roller‑coaster: "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 mental place, so we just kept pushing. It helped us because we knew what we had to do.
After the 70th minute I could feel the momentum shift – the substitutes were adding energy, and my staff kept reminding me that a single point was enough. The players left everything on the pitch. 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 it right, and I’ll stay with the team until the final whistle. I’m looking forward to a nice beer tonight." Ipswich manager 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 crucial – we haven't been good 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 half‑hour we were the team pushing for the win. Whether it's a good point will be clear next weekend. It's a brutal league. West Brom are a strong side – they're on a ten‑game unbeaten run with seven clean sheets.
The pitch was bumpy and the heat made it difficult to play good football. A point on a day like today is something we can build on." The match also featured promotional content for the Sky Sports app and the Super 6 competition, offering a £250,000 prize pool with free entry until 3 pm on Saturday. Overall, the draw not only cemented West Brom's safety but also kept the promotion race alive, while Ipswich remain in contention for an automatic promotion slot, setting the stage for a decisive encounter with Southampton in the coming days.