Chris Sutton goes against all his instincts in Ipswich v Everton prediction

Chris Sutton predicts Ipswich to pick up their first win of the Premier League season against Everton at Portman Road on Saturday.

The Blues will travel to Suffolk in good form after the 0-0 draw against Newcastle United before the international break, which marked a three-match unbeaten run for Sean Dyche.

However, ex-Norwich striker Sutton is backing Kieran McKenna to get one over on Everton at the weekend in his Premier League predictions for BBC Sport [17 October] albeit, going against his “instincts”.

He said: “This one is very hard to call. Ipswich are still winless but, performance-wise, they might still be strangely happy because they have shown they can compete in the Premier League.

“Everton have some reasons to be cheerful too. They are only a point and a place above Ipswich in the table but their results have picked up recently, and they are unbeaten in three league games now.

“So, I have been scratching my head here about what to go for… and I am going to go against all my instincts and say Ipswich are going to get their first win of the season.

“Kieran McKenna’s side deserve a break, and maybe they will get it here.

“Prediction: 2-1.”

Everton can get a result against a resilient Ipswich Town side

For a newly-promoted side, Ipswich are proving tough to beat at home this season barring a 2-0 loss to Liverpool on the opening day, the Tractor Boys have held Fulham and Aston Villa to draws at Portman Road.

Everton on the other hand, have a torrid away record with the 1-1 draw against Leicester City the only point to show for on the road.

Three points would be massive for Dyche on the weekend, only one point and one league position separate the sides and should other results go their way, the Blues could end the weekend with a five-point gap to the relegation zone.

The Blues boss is under intense pressure at Goodison Park, while Goodison News understands the rumours linking Jose Mourinho and David Moyes as potential successors are unsubstantial; Dyche’s long-term future at Everton is not guaranteed and he will need to put together a run of results to convince prospective owner Dan Friedkin he is the right man to lead the side.

Should Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitali Mykolenko return to feature against Ipswich, the Toffees will have the bulk of the defence, who conceded 51 goals in the Premier League last term with only Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal conceding fewer goals.

Even this early into the new season the result at Portman Road could have massive ramifications at the bottom half of the table and Dyche must ensure his side comes out on top.

In other Everton news, Sean Dyche is hours away from a Jarrad Branthwaite decision for the Toffees ahead of the Ipswich clash.

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