The last Sunderland XI to face Ipswich Town at Portman Road, including £14m winger

Sunderland begin the 2026/27 Premier League away to Ipswich Town, their first visit to Portman Road since January 2024.

Sunderland Echo notes the contrast with that last trip, when Michael Beale had just replaced Tony Mowbray and the side were mid-table in the Championship.

That day, Jack Clarke put Sunderland ahead from Abdoullah Ba’s pass, only for Kayden Jackson to equalise seven minutes later past Anthony Patterson. Conor Chaplin then won it for Kieran McKenna’s team, finishing after a Leif Davis free-kick.

They return later this month seeking a positive start to a campaign that will see them play Europa League football for the first time.

Anthony Patterson helped seal promotion, then lost his place to Robin Roefs, spent the second half of last season at Millwall and this week joined Wrexham for a reported £8m. Trai Hume, Luke O’Nien and Dan Ballard remain mainstays, with O’Nien past 325 appearances. Aji Alese’s Portsmouth loan was cut short by injury and his next step is unclear.

Abdoullah Ba spent time with USL Dunkerque, and a proposed Peterborough United switch fell through on Thursday. Dan Neil finished last season on loan at Ipswich and has since joined Rangers on a free, signing for three years.

Jack Clarke joined Ipswich seven months later for a reported £14m and has 19 goals and eight assists in 85 appearances, while Jobe Bellingham moved to Borussia Dortmund for around £30m and produced one goal and five assists in 49 games last season.

Source: Sunderland Echo

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