Third-placed Ipswich Town are now just two points behind Middlesbrough
Tommy Conway of Middlesbrough looks dejected(Image: Getty Images)
EFL expert Jobi McAnuff has explained why he believes Ipswich Town will pip Middlesbrough to automatic promotion this season, with an ‘advantage Ipswich’ claim made.
Boro’s recent slip-ups at home have allowed the Tractor Boys to close the gap to Kim Hellberg’s side to just two points. The side currently sitting third also have a game in hand – which will become two after Good Friday, with Ipswich not in action due to Southampton’s progression in the FA Cup.
For McAnuff, who regularly fronts Sky Sports’ coverage of the EFL, he’s not so sure that having the game in hand gives Kieran McKenna’s side an advantage. But he does feel the quality in depth they have – helped by the fact they had the £40m-plus parachute payment advantage – will be the decisive factor.
McAnuff told the Football Daily +72 Podcast: “If Ipswich win that game in hand then yes, it will be advantage Ipswich as things stand. But, they’ve got to win them. We’ve seen of late, it hasn’t always been the case that they go and get the results we think they’re going to get.
“They had a couple of draws recently that I think we all agree they’ll be disappointed with. But then you look at Middlesbrough, particularly at home, where teams are coming and sitting in and making life difficult, they haven’t been able to find a way to win those games.
“It has been a great run under Kim Hellberg overall. But I’ve always fancied Ipswich. I just think the squad depth, the quality – not just in the starting 11, but what they’ve got coming off the bench – and having more ways to win will work in their favour.
“If Middlesbrough don’t unlock that formula of finding a way to break teams down when they’re sitting in that low block and making things hard then that could do them in terms of that top two place.
“Ipswich just have so many options. They can out-football you, but then in the games where it’s tough, where it’s nervy, teams at the other end are fighting for everything, sometimes it can be the substitutes you have who can come on and help you get the result you need.
“Ipswich have those games in hand and they have Middlesbrough to come as well. It’s in their hands, and I just feel they will have the quality to get over the line.”
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Boro travel to Blackburn Rovers this weekend hoping to return to winning ways and guarantee they at least maintain their second-placed spot throughout the upcoming international break.
With Ipswich hosting fourth-placed Millwall at the same time, as least one, potentially both, of Boro’s top-two rivals will drop points this weekend, adding to the sense of importance at getting a result at Ewood Park.
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