Saturday 30th August kick-off 17:20
Live on:



Town travel the 95 miles to Watford's Vicarage Road Stadium on Saturday for a tea-time TV encounter with Aidy Boothroyd's men.


The Hornets were the only team to do the 'double' over the Blues last season and Jim Magilton will want to avenge this and get his first win over Watford at the fourth time of asking.
Its nearly a year to the day that Town were last in Hertfordshire and took part in one of our poorest displays of the campaign, eventually losing by two goals to nil, Whilst in February this year The Hornets were the only club to leave Portman Road triumphant, beating Town by 2-1. It was Watford's away performances that lifted them into 6th position last term and secure a Play-off spot, and its there where they fell, losing on aggregate by 6 goals to 1 against eventual winners, Hull City.

They have opened this season with a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace, a 1-0 win at home against Charlton, and a 3-2 defeat at Nottingham Forest's City Ground last weekend. They currently sit 13th in The Championship, a point above Town. In The Carling Cup they beat Bristol Rovers, 1-0 in the first round before squeezing past Darlington after extra time, 2-1 on Tuesday night.
Leading Striker from the last few seasons, Darius Henderson departed Vicarage Road in the summer, so Aidy Boothroyd replaced him with ex-Derby and Southampton striker Grzegorz Rasiak, but the Polish hit man has yet to find his scoring touch for The Hornets. Rasiak will probably be partnered by Tamas Priskin up front at the weekend, but its attacking midfielder Tommy Smith


who will be the player to keep an eye on from Town's point of view. The 28 year old has netted all Watford's 3 goals in the League this season.

Match fact: Watford have only won 2 of their last 10 games at Home. Ipswich have won 4 of their last 10 away.

Our league record at Vicarage Road:
Played: 27
Won: 8
Drawn: 7
Lost: 12
Goals:
For: 35
Against: 44

Our biggest victory: Came in a Division 3(South) game in 1956 when Ipswich won 2-0.
Our Heaviest defeat: Also came in a Division 3 (South) game in 1949 when we were whalloped by six goals to nil.

The Highest attendance: Is 18,048 whilst we were UEFA Cup holders in a Division 1 game in 1982, Paul Mariner scored our goal in a 2-1 defeat.

The Lowest attendance: Just 4,544 watched another 2-1 defeat for Ipswich on Christmas Day in 1956, Tom Garneys with our goal.

Our leading all-time scorer against The Hornets is John Wark with 7 goals, Ted Phillips got 5, Tom Garneys 4, whilst Dean Bowditch is amongst 4 players with 3 goals. All of his goals coming the last time the 2 teams met for a live TV encounter in 2004.

19 players have represented both clubs, they include, Brian Talbot, Steve Palmer and Trevor Putney.

Town's key man:





I think, will be new signing Ivan Campo, the 34 year old Town Midfielder will be played as an anchorman just in front of our defence this season I feel, and its his experience we need to keep the exciting Tommy Smith quiet.

Leggi predicts: Our toughest test of the season so far, I think. We were awful at Vicarage Road last time round, and the visit before that we were conned in the FA Cup, so it is a ground where we need to bury some ghosts. Its a chance to show the nation what we're all about this year and with Walters in top form, its a game we can nick. I don't think Watford are as strong as seasons gone by, so I'll say 2-1 to Town.

Lee Probert from Wiltshire is Saturdays referee, he awarded 82 yellow and 3 red cards last season.
He last officiated an Ipswich game in September last year when we were well beaten 3-1 by Hull City at the KC stadium.

With Rasiak out now, I can't see Watford scoring from Open Play. Think our Defensive Frailties will always cost us 1 goal though, So i'll go 1-0 Watford. It's not a team we do too well against and just can't see past a Watford win.