Ipswich vs Leeds: Who are the better passers, tacklers, and most direct?

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We preview Ipswich Town’s match against Leeds United on Wednesday night.

Leeds United take on Ipswich Town on Wednesday night with both sides looking to bounce back from defeats at the weekend.

While lost to Watford, Ipswich were beaten by their close rivals Norwich City on Sunday, and the challenge for both sides will be to prove that this result has not affected their morale too much.

Before their defeats at the weekend, both sides have enjoyed positive results, but it is easy to identify why Ipswich’s good form has been more sustained over the course of the season than Leeds’.

Ipswich have mounted an unexpected promotion bid this campaign, while Leeds have only just climbed away from the relegation zone, and the areas where the Tractor Boys will have an advantage on Wednesday night are clear.

Ipswich have had considerably more shots on goal per game than Leeds, but they have also proven more sturdy at the back throughout the season.

The two teams’ styles are contrasting, with the Whites actually managing more passes per game than Mick McCarthy’s men, but Ipswich’s strategy is unquestionably more effective.

The East Anglian side are keen to get the ball into their front-men quickly (as shown by the number of passes they play forward) and work from there.

Leeds, on the other hand, are more patient in their build-up and they prefer to retain possession for longer periods. Leeds do, however, make for robust opponents and the vast amount of tackles they make per match mean that they are difficult to play against.

It means that it should be an intriguing encounter and Portman Road, but the stats do suggest that anything other than an Ipswich win would be a shock.