Wolves Urged By Nelson Semedo To Complete Survival Mission Against Ipswich Town

Nelson Semedo has urged Wolves to secure their Premier League status for another season. This comes ahead of their crucial match against Ipswich Town on Saturday. Wolves recently defeated West Ham 1-0 at home, thanks to Jorgen Strand Larsen's deflected goal. This victory extended their lead over the relegation zone to 12 points.

The gap was reduced to nine points after Ipswich beat Bournemouth 2-1, with goals from Nathan Broadhead and Liam Delap. Despite this, Wolves are still favourites to avoid relegation. Under Vitor Pereira, who took charge in mid-December after Gary O'Neil's exit, Wolves have earned 20 points from 14 matches.

When O'Neil was dismissed following a 2-1 loss to Ipswich, Wolves were 19th with only nine points from 16 games, five points away from safety. Semedo attributes Wolves' improvement to team unity and effort on the field. "It's the togetherness we have," he said, "the support we give each other."

Wolves have won six of their last eight matches against promoted teams under Pereira's leadership. They defeated both Leicester and Southampton during this period. Semedo emphasised the importance of their next game, saying: "We have to go there and make a statement." He added that fan support is crucial for securing three points.

Meanwhile, Ipswich Town's recent win has given them hope. However, manager Kieran McKenna stopped short of calling their next match a must-win. "Let's say it's a big, big game," he commented. The team aims to recover well and be prepared for the challenge.

Players to Watch

For Ipswich Town, Jack Clarke has been notable with assists in his last two appearances at Portman Road. Yet, he hasn't been on the winning side in any of his 12 home games in the Premier League (four draws, eight losses). This ties him with Onel Hernandez for the most such games without a win.

Joao Gomes is a key player for Wolves after signing a new long-term contract and delivering an impressive performance against West Ham. He ranks fourth in tackles attempted (87) and won (51) this season in the Premier League.

Match Prediction and Historical Context

Ipswich seeks to complete their first league double over Wolves since 1991-92 after winning at Molineux in December. Their last top-flight double was in 1983-84 when Wolves finished bottom of the First Division. Pereira's squad has gained 13 points since February with four wins, one draw, and two losses.

Their recent away victories against Bournemouth and Southampton mark more wins than they achieved in their previous 19 away matches combined (five draws, 12 defeats). Ipswich aims to avoid losing six consecutive league games at Portman Road for just the second time since 1963.

Ipswich has lost ten home games this season—their highest since losing ten in the Championship during the 2010-11 campaign. The form suggests Wolves might increase that tally to eleven, although Opta's supercomputer predicts a close contest with both teams having a win probability of around 36% each.