Brighton star Jeremy Sarmiento can help Ipswich to promotion – if they win their three remaining matches
Jeremy Sarmiento, an attacker for Brighton, is assisting Ipswich Town in their unexpected championship run.
After moving to Portman Road on loan last January, Sarmiento played the first hour of the Tractor Boys’ 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough last Saturday, propelling them back to the top of the Championship. In his Ipswich career, it was the Ecuadorian’s fifth Championship start.
With two games remaining in their schedule, leaders Ipswich, second-placed Leicester, and third-place Leeds are only two points apart, while Southampton, who have two games remaining against the Tractor Boys and United, are six points further behind. If Ipswich and Leicester win their remaining games, they advance along with Southampton and Leeds, but only through the play-offs.
With 43 games played, Ipswich has 89 points and a +32 goal differential. They will play Sarmiento at Hull (a), Coventry (a), and Huddersfield (h) in their final three games. With Huddersfield fighting valiantly to stay in the league and Hull and Coventry on the outside looking in, all three of their remaining opponents still have something to gain.
With 88 points from 42 games and a +41 goal differential, Leicester has played 42. They have to play Blackburn (h), Preston (a), Southampton (h), and West Brom (h). But they still control their own destiny, and because three of their past four games have been played at King Power Stadium, they will be hoping to capitalize on home field advantage.
Leeds has 87 points, a +42 goal differential, and 43 games played. Middlesbrough (a), QPR (a), and Southampton (h) are their final opponents. Leeds, like the two teams above them, has faltered at the worst possible time. After another away game at QPR on Monday, Southampton travels to Middlesbrough for a final-day match.
Southampton has accrued 81 points from 41 games played, with a +27 goal differential. Preston (h), Cardiff (a), Leicester (a), Stoke (h), and Leeds (a) are the games they must play. Their recent seven-game winning streak of four and their lone loss has put them back in the hunt. Russell Martin’s team has tough travels to Leeds and Leicester ahead of them, but a loss against Preston, Cardiff, and Stoke would be disastrous for their cause.
