The nightmare Ipswich Town scenario that West Brom may face | OneFootball

West Bromwich Albion host Ipswich Town in their penultimate Championship game

West Bromwich Albion remain firmly in the Championship relegation battle despite beating Hull City and Bristol City in both of their last two games before the international break.

The Baggies' triumph over the Tigers on 14 March was their first win since a 2-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers all the way back in December.

Interim boss James Morrison has established some positive momentum at The Hawthorns following the poor managerial tenures overseen by both Ryan Mason and Eric Ramsay.

Therefore, the international break arrived at a bad time for West Brom, who won't have played for almost two weeks by the time they host play-off challengers Wrexham on Good Friday.

Ipswich Town clash could create a very painful outcome for West Brom in April

The Baggies have proven that they are capable of beating sides who have performed significantly better than them this term when they defeated play-off hopefuls Hull.

However, April's fixtures against Wrexham, and automatic promotion challengers Millwall and Ipswich Town will likely prove tough for Morrison's men.

The business end of the campaign is the period that will determine which sides book their place in next season's Premier League, and more importantly for West Brom, which clubs avoid the drop to League One.

Albion's clash with Ipswich on 25 April marks their final home game of the season, and their penultimate game of the Championship campaign.

That meeting has strong permutations for both ends of the table, while former Baggies stars Darnell Furlong, Dara O'Shea, Cedric Kipre, and Alex Palmer are all plying their trade for Kieran McKenna's men.

Palmer has made 10 Championship appearances for the Tractor Boys this season, but McKenna has predominantly trusted Christian Walton as his starting goalkeeper.

In contrast, Kipre, Furlong, and O'Shea have been regular features for Ipswich this term, as they continue to battle for an immediate Premier League return.

Given the fact that West Brom face the Tractor Boys in their penultimate game of the season, it could be a decisive afternoon in terms of their Championship status.

Therefore, it would be particularly painful for Albion if they are driven closer to the drop to League One by a side who boast their former stars such as Furlong.

The Baggies will be buoyed by the fact that they face already relegated Sheffield Wednesday in their final outing of the campaign, but the Owls will be keen to end a painful campaign on a high.

Furthermore, Morrison's side would head to Hillsborough full of nerves and with a lack of confidence if they are defeated by Ipswich on 25 April.

West Brom remain just four points clear of the relegation zone, so slip-ups, combined with an upturn in form from any of Blackburn Rovers, Leicester City, Portsmouth, or Oxford United could see them fall to the third tier.

West Brom must overcome vital challenges ahead of Ipswich clash

As aforementioned, the timing of the Baggies' clash with Ipswich means that it may hold the key to whether the Black Country club retain their Championship status.

However, Albion have five fixtures before taking on the Tractor Boys, including a vital clash with relegation rivals Blackburn on Easter Monday.

West Brom will also feel that their clash with mid-table outfit Preston North End on 18 April presents them with a winnable game.

Then, a meeting with Watford on 21 April arrives just four days before their visit to Ipswich, and the Baggies will want to be on good form heading into a fixture against one of the Championship's best teams.