MX23RW : Friday, November 22 23:06:00| >> :120:3626:3626:
[monks data]
Ipswich logo
Championship
Mar 1, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Birmingham logo

1-0

Murphy (38')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Preview: Ipswich Town vs. Birmingham City

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between playoff-chasing Ipswich Toen and Birmingham City at Portman Road.

Ipswich Town will still have aspirations of reaching the playoffs this season, but to do so they will need to return to winning ways sooner rather than later.

That is exactly what they will attempt to do when they host Birmingham City at Portman Road this Saturday as they look to close the five-point gap currently separating them from sixth-placed Reading.

The Tractor Boys have only won one of their last five matches, although draws have been their biggest problem in that time as the 3-0 loss to Leicester City last Saturday was their first defeat in six.

Mick McCarthy's side are in the disadvantaged position of having played a game more than the three teams directly above them in the league, but a win on Saturday could still lift them as high as eighth and within striking distance of the top six.

However, they have not scored in their last two matches and will have to manage for the rest of the season without top scorer David McGoldrick, who has been ruled out through injury.

Only Queens Park Rangers have beaten Ipswich at Portman Road in their last nine matches there in all competitions, but they have been held to home draws by struggling teams such as Barnsley, Blackpool and Charlton Athletic this season.

In addition to McGoldrick, McCarthy could be without Anthony Wordsworth and Luke Hyam, both of whom are injury doubts.

Birmingham, meanwhile, will be fairly comfortable with their position after a 2-1 win over Blackpool left them nine points clear of the relegation zone.

With five teams separating the Blues from the bottom three, even Charlton's three games in hand won't be too much of a worry for Lee Clark's side, who would take a big step towards clinching survival with a win this weekend.

Their form has been inconsistent in general, but they have largely relied on their remarkable record away from home this season to keep them at arm's length of danger.

Only four teams have amassed more points on their travels than Birmingham this season, while Leicester City and Derby County are the only teams to have won more games on the road.

Clark will be without Matthew Green and Neal Eardley for the game, but he has no new injury concerns to worry about.

Recent form

Ipswich: WDWDDL

Birmingham: LDWLLW

Possible starting lineups

Ipswich: Gerken; Chambers, Berra, Smith, Cresswell; Hunt, Tabb, Skuse, Anderson; Murphy, Nouble

Birmingham: Randolph; Spector, Packwood, Robinson, Hancox; Adeyemi, Huws; Burke, Novak, Lee; Macheda

Sports Mole says: 2-1


ID:141454: cacheID:141454:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4900:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson looks on ahead of the Championship playoff semi-final against Watford on May 9, 2013
Read Next:
Preview: Leicester vs. Ipswich
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Steelers
19-24
Browns
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!