Nelson Semedo has called on Wolves to finish the job of securing their Premier League status for another season, ahead of Saturday's huge clash with Ipswich Town.

Wolves continued their upturn in form with a 1-0 home victory over West Ham on Tuesday, as Jorgen Strand Larsen's deflected strike took them 12 points clear of the relegation zone.

However, that gap was cut back to nine points one day later, as goals from Nathan Broadhead and Liam Delap fired Ipswich to a 2-1 victory at Bournemouth.

But Wolves remain favourites to avoid relegation, and they have now earned 20 points from 14 Premier League matches under Vitor Pereira, who took over in mid-December following Gary O'Neil's dismissal. 

When O'Neil was sacked in the wake of a dramatic 2-1 defeat at home to Ipswich, Wolves were 19th in the table with just nine points from 16 games, five adrift of safety.

Asked what he put Wolves' improvement down to, Semedo told the club's media channels: "It's the togetherness we have, the support we give each other, and the way we leave everything on the pitch, especially in the last few games.

"Since Vitor arrived, I think we had a big change, for the better obviously. Now we have to keep that going."

Wolves have won six of their last eight Premier League games against promoted sides (one draw, one defeat), beating both Leicester and Southampton during Pereira's reign.

Semedo knows they have the opportunity to deal a knockout blow to a rival next time out, saying: "I think the message is that we have to go there and make a statement.

"We know this week is important, now we have to finish this week. We have to go to that next game with everything.

"We have a job to finish. We're going to need the fans, as usual, and we're going to make sure that we leave our lives, our hearts, out on the pitch to bring three points home."

The Tractor Boys gave themselves a glimmer of hope with their midweek win, but Kieran McKenna refused to describe their next match as a "must-win".

"Let's say it's a big, big game, there's no two ways about that," he said. "We'll get back now, recover well and make sure we're up for that one."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Ipswich Town – Jack Clarke

Clarke has assisted a goal on each of his last two Premier League appearances at Portman Road, though he is yet to end on the winning side in any of his 12 home games in the competition (four draws, eight losses). 

That is the joint-most of any player in Premier League history, along with Onel Hernandez (three draws, nine defeats in 2019-20 for Norwich City).

Wolves – Joao Gomes

Gomes penned a new long-term contract with Wolves in midweek, then celebrated that deal with a starring performance against West Ham.

He ranks fourth in the Premier League for tackles attempted (87) and won (51) this season, and fifth for total duels contested (335). In what should be a fiery affair, the Brazil international will take the fight to Ipswich.

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

Following their 2-1 win at Molineux in December, Ipswich are looking to complete their first league double over Wolves since 1991-92, and their first in the top flight since 1983-84.

Wolves finished bottom of the old First Division and were relegated in that latter season, while the Tractor Boys were comfortable in 12th spot.

But Pereira's men have collected 13 points in the Premier League since the start of February, recording four victories, one draw and two defeats.

They have also won their last two on the road in the competition – against Bournemouth and Southampton. 

That is more victories than they managed in their previous 19 road trips (five draws, 12 defeats), and they last won more in a row between December 2021 and February 2022 (four straight under Bruno Lage).

Their recent upturn means the onus is on Ipswich to attack on Saturday, as the Tractor Boys look to avoid losing six straight league games at Portman Road for just the second time, previously doing so in 1963.

Ipswich's 10 home defeats in the Premier League this season are their most in any campaign since also losing 10 in the Championship in 2010-11. The formbook suggests Wolves might make it 11 here, though Opta's supercomputer is predicting a tight encounter.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Ipswich Town – 36%

Wolves – 36.1%

Draw – 27.9%