Pick of the stats: Southampton v Ipswich Town

Perhaps the most pivotal match of the Championship season will take place on Tuesday (19:45 BST) as second-placed Ipswich visit Southampton in a potentially decisive game in hand. After seeing a late lead in their FA Cup semi-final against Man City wiped out in the closing stages at Wembley on Saturday, Saints will turn their attention to the fight for automatic promotion back to the Premier League. Tonda Eckert's side are fifth, four points behind the Tractor Boys , who lie ahead of third-placed Millwall on goal difference, with Middlesbrough a point back in fourth.

Saints are unbeaten in 17 league games but must win to keep their hopes of a second-placed finish alive. Following Saturday's goalless draw at West Brom, a win for Ipswich would all-but secure automatic promotion, no matter what happens on the final day, given their huge goal difference (+30) advantage over the Lions (+13). A draw would make it a three-team fight for the second automatic spot on the final afternoon on Saturday, but with Ipswich remaining in the box seat ahead of QPR's visit to Portman Road.

Southampton have won just one of their past six league games against Ipswich (D3 L2), a 2-1 away win in the Premier League last season. Ipswich are unbeaten in their past five away league games against Southampton, though four of these have ended level (the other was a 1-0 win in September 2023). Southampton lost their final home game in their last Championship season in 2023-24 (0-1 v Stoke), but haven't done so in successive campaigns outside of the top-flight since 1935-36/1936-37.

Ipswich have won their final away game in three of their past five Championship seasons (L2), this after only doing so in two of their previous 12 second-tier campaigns beforehand (D5 L5). Southampton are unbeaten in 17 league games (W13 D4); only twice before in their league history have they enjoyed a longer run, going 19 games from September to December in 1921 and 22 matches from September 2023 to February 2024. [BBC]