Manager Kieran McKenna is expecting his Ipswich Town side to face a battle of wills when they lock horns with Millwall in a crunch Championship fixture tomorrow lunchtime.
The two teams will face off at Portman Road for a 12.30pm kick-off locked on 68 points apiece, just two adrift of Middlesbrough in second place.
And McKenna believes that it is the side that can best impose their playing style on proceedings that will have the greater chance of picking up what could prove to be a crucial victory come the end of the season.
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna. Picture: Barry Goodwin
“They’ve done very well; it’s clear to see in their results. When you watch the games, you see how competitive they are, so credit to them,” said the Town boss.
“They deserve to be where they are. They’ve got a really good experienced manager, good players, a really effective team. It’s going to be a real test for us tomorrow.
“Of course, it’s the game we want to make it at Portman Road against anyone, which is a fast game with us with a ball and trying to attack. But I’m pretty sure teams will come to Portman Road and they’ll want to make it the type of game they want to make it.
“There’s obvious things about Millwall. They’re obviously a really strong set of players. They’ve got a big counter-attack threat, but they’ve got their own weapons as well.
“It’s going to be a tough game like they all are in the Championship, especially when you’re playing a team as strong as Millwall.
“We’ll try and make it the type of game that we like at Portman Road and that we want at Portman Road, but we’re pretty sure the opposition will try and stop us doing that. That’s the beauty of football and we’ve got to find a way to overcome that.”
McKenna also confirmed that Wes Burns will miss the match with the injury he picked up during last weekend’s 2-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday, but the midfielder should return after the international break.