Today is one of three home games Ipswich have left in the regular season. (Image: PA)
Run-in starts now…
That game-of-two-halves 1-1 home draw against Millwall seems a long time ago now.
Much of the discourse over the 15 days that followed has centred around Farage-gate. Whether the political discord that’s whipped up among supporters bleeds into this afternoon’s atmosphere remains to be seen.
Dara O’Shea, Jack Taylor (both Republic of Ireland) and Anis Mehmeti (Albania) all suffered international heartache, their nations losing World Cup qualifying play-offs. George Hirst has been away with Scotland, too.
Town then had to sit back and watch top two rivals Middlesbrough and Millwall play each other on Good Friday. That’s because their own scheduled match at Southampton was postponed due to the Saints having reached the FA Cup quarter-finals. Millwall came from behind to win 2-1 and climb to second. It leaves Ipswich three points adrift of the automatic promotion places with two games in hand to come.
Today marks the start of a sprint to the finish consisting of eight games in 27 days. Strap yourselves in, it could be a bumpy ride!
Birmingham and Ipswich players clash at the end of an opening day 1-1 draw. (Image: Ross Halls)
We meet again
Ipswich were fortunate to leave St Andrew’s with a point back on the opening night of the season. Birmingham City were riding the crest of a wave after storming to the League One title and, roared on by a fired up home crowd, really got in freshly-relegated Town’s faces. Jay Stansfield’s goal had them on course for victory, but a very soft penalty awarded for handball allowed Hirst to level from the spot deep into stoppage-time. That’s when a game of needle boiled over. Conor Chaplin booted the ball into the crowd, Christoph Klarner charged in, players tussled in front of the advertising hoardings and a Birmingham fan ran forward to throw a punch at Jack Taylor. Both clubs were subsequently charged by The FA.
That was then though, and this is now.
Ipswich have signed eight players since that day. After a period of readjustment to life back in the Championship, Kieran McKenna’s men have, without blowing anyone’s socks off, gradually found their feet. Since the summer transfer window closed, the Blues have been ticking over at close to two points per game (1.94). They come into today unbeaten in seven (W4 D3) and two of those draws, remember, would have been wins had it not been for some controversial late penalty calls.
Birmingham, meanwhile, have faded of late and look destined for a mid-table finish. Manager Chris Davies has admitted on more than one occasion that his side ‘fell well short’ or ‘weren’t good enough’. He might start coming under a bit of pressure at a club with big ambitions, including plans for a new 64,000 capacity stadium.
Could Jaden Philogene be handed his first start since mid-January? (Image: Steve Waller)
Who plays?
McKenna was without four key players for the visit of Millwall and it could be that only one of them is available today.
Cedric Kipre has served his two-game suspension, leaving the Blues boss with a decision to make at centre-back. Stick with Jacob Greaves or restore a player who started 22 games in a row before his ban?
Leif Davis still has one match of his three-game suspension to see out, meaning Ben Johnson is likely to continue at left-back. Putting Greaves there is, however, also an option.
Playmaker Marcelino Nunez (hamstring) and direct-running winger Wes Burns (calf), who bring qualities different to anyone else in the squad, will both undergo late fitness tests. McKenna says both are ‘touch and go’ and that he won’t take any unnecessary risks. There are other, unnamed players, in the same situation.
Star winger Jaden Philogene, with two weeks more training under his belt, could be ready to make his first start since suffering a knee injury in the middle of January. It remains to be seen if McKenna tries to get him and Jack Clarke, who both prefer cutting in from the left, into the same team.
Possible Town XI: Walton; Furlong, O’Shea, Kipre, Johnson; Matusiwa, Neil; Walle Egeli, Clarke, Philogene; Hirst.
Ipswich have won 12 league games at Portman Road this season. (Image: Ross Halls)
Stu’s prediction
No opponent is easy in the Championship, and Birmingham undoubtedly have some talented players, but of the remaining eight games that Town face this is the one I’m probably most confident about.
Birmingham are drifting towards a mid-table finish, which might just just dilute some of their competitive edge, and I think they’ll come to Portman Road to try and attack, which normally plays into Ipswich’s hands.
The stats show that Ipswich have won 12 home league games, while Birmingham have lost 12 on their travels.
I really hope Town can start fast, keep the crowd together and secure the win that will set the tone ahead of next Saturday’s trip to Carrow Road and the hectic run-in ahead. I’ll say 2-0.