Ipswich Town
Preview: Saints – Town
By Aston
February 29 2008
Town can sneak back into the play-off places if they can pick up all three points against Southampton at St Mary's tomorrow afternoon. Town are without Alan Quinn who has an ankle injury, but other then that Town manager Jim Magilton has a full strength squad to pick from.
Town manager Jim Magilton: "They have got some very good players in their ranks, Southampton, but they are low on confidence, expectation levels there are very high, like they are here. They have enjoyed so many years in the Premier League and they can see that the Championship is a very difficult league to get out of.
"It's not worked out for them this year and that can lead to nervousness about the place. That's what happens when you are on a negative run of results.
"If they don't start positively the crowd will get nervous and we need to look to capitalise on that. We need to take every advantage going.
"Our away form has been pretty good lately. There was nothing really to choose between the teams in our defeat at Stoke last week, apart from a wonderful goal.
"I'm looking for a reaction from that defeat though. We are at the business end of the season and there is pressure but players in the Premier League play under that type of pressure every week and are comfortable with it. You have to be if you want to play at that level."
Town squad: Bruce, Bywater, Casement, Colgan, Counago, De Vos, Garvan, Harding, Haynes, Lee, Norris, Miller, Naylor, Sito, Sumulikoski, Trotter, Walters, Wright.
Southampton on the other hand will be without Southampton Chris Makin, Nathan Dyer, Bartosz Bialkowski, Alexander Ostlund and Darren Powell but midfielder Youssef Safri is back after suspension.
Southampton manager Nigel Pearson: "Ipswich had a very good year and I have a lot of respect for what they've achieved. They had a difficult year last season but have come on a lot.
"Once we're safe, we're going to have to look to do the same next year but knowing Jim and his connections he'll want to come here and put on a good show.
"We have to deal with whatever they throw at us and impose ourselves on them but I want my players to go out there and beat them.
"This is a results-driven business so it's about doing it on the pitch not positive spiel, but the players are keen to turn the corner and finish the season on a positive note. That starts against Ipswich.
"We've got to play with passion and desire but we've also got to play smart and stick to the game plan to get all three points.
"There will be days when it doesn't happen but I'm making sure we set high standards for the players.
"I'm determined to do the job right and be successful.
"It will get tight so it's a case of keeping a calm head and concentrating on what we do.
"Ultimately it's what we do that determines whether we're successful. We have to be very strong over the next few weeks to make sure we pull ourselves out of this situation.
"It won't be easy because it's a tough league but we're thinking positively about things."
Match odds:
Southampton: 17/10
Draw: 12/5
Town: 7/4
Referee: M P Russell (Hertfordshire)
Assistants: D Belbin (Middlesex) and P N Gibbs (W Midlands)
Fourth Official: A A Laver (Hampshire)
Got a prediction for the game? Leave it below.
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
