Ipswich Town
Leggi Looks At: Saints
By Leggi
September 15 2008
STB Message boarder Leggi is back once again giving us an insight into Town's opponents, on Wednesday Town travel to Southampton. Southampton
Town make the 170 mile trip to St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, on Wednesday looking to make it 2 wins on the bounce for only the 3rd time this calendar year, against a Saints side who have continued where they left off last season. Southampton finished just 2 points above the drop zone under the guidance of Nigel Pearson last time around and now under the new management of Dutchman Jan Poortvliet,(their 10th manager in 10 years) They sit second bottom of the Division after a heavy defeat on Sunday at Queens Park Rangers.
Poortvliet, a former World Cup finalist as a player, has opted for youth this season and has seen his inexperienced side win just once in the League so far, and he will be hoping for The Saints first home win against a rejuvenated Town side.
Southampton kicked off their Season at Ninian Park, Cardiff, losing by 2 goals to 1, The following Saturday saw Birmingham win by the same scoreline at St Mary's, The Saints only League win so far followed at fellow strugglers Derby, 1-0 the final scoreline. Then a home defeat to Blackpool (1-0) and 4-1 defeat at QPR sees the Saints, sitting struggling at the wrong end of the League ladder.
They have however progressed to the 3rd round of the Carling Cup, by beating Exeter City 3-1 and Birmingham City 2-0. They now face a trip to the Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield, to face Rotherham United next Tuesday night. A familiar face awaits the Town strikers in the form of goalkeeper Kelvin Davies, who despite The Saints position, has been excellent this season, he made save after save on Sunday and is surely too good to play in the Championship. Their frontline will be lead by 20 year-old David McGoldrick, the former Notts County trainee has bagged 4 goals so far and certainly looks 'one for the future'. Aided by the experience of Stern John can only help him progress too.
Town's league record at Southampton
Played: 28
Won: 9
Drawn: 9
Lost: 10
Goals:
For: 41
Against: 43
Our biggest victory cane in our last ever visit to The Dell, 3-0 it ended up, a live Sky TV audience watched Marcus Stewart grab a hat-trick in the Premier League back in April 2001.
Our biggest loss is losing by the same scoreline (3-0) in an 'old' Division one game in 1985.
The highest attendance watched an entertaining 3-3 draw. 29,614 saw Town's first ever trip to the new stadium in October 2001 Mark Venus and Marcus Stewart (2) on the scoresheet for The Blues. The lowest gate of just 9,028 saw Ipswich win by 1-0 in the Premier League in December 1993, Chris Kiwomya scoring at The Dell.
Our Leading scorers against Southampton are Alan Brazil and Paul Mariner who hit 7 goals each. John Wark, Marcus Stewart and Ray Crawford got 5 a piece.
Thirteen players have worn both kits, they include, Mick Mills, Russell Osman and gaffer Jim Magilton.
Leggi's Town Key player:
Is new Loanee signing Jon Stead, The Sheffield United striker had a dream debut on Saturday and adds something else to our forward line. I think he can make a real name for himself at Portman Road and bring back his heyday of Huddersfield Town. Against a young Saints side he could do real damage.
Leggi predicts:
After our struggles of recent weeks, it was with great relief that we played Reading off the park on Saturday, and got back to our near best. This can only bode well for our trip to Hampshire on Wednesday. I saw Southampton's game on Sunday, and the scoreline flattered QPR, The Saints didn't seem that bad and our former 'Keeper Kelvin Davies was in inspired form. This said, I still feel than Poortvliet's youthful policy will see The Saints go down this season, if they don't start picking up points quickly, and can only see us winning comfortably in midweek. 3-0 to the good guys.
Got a prediction for the game? Leave it below.
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Town make the 170 mile trip to St Mary's Staduim, Southampton, on Wednesday Looking to make it 2 wins on the bounce for only the 3rd time this calender year, against a Saints side who have continued where they left off last season. Southampton finished just 2 points above the drop zone under the guidence of Nigel Pearson last time around and now under the new management of Dutchman Jan Poortvliet,
(their 10th manager in 10 years) They sit second bottom of the Division after a heavy defeat on Sunday at Queens Park Rangers.
Poortvliet, a former World Cup finalist as a player, has opted for youth this season and has seen his inexperienced side win just once in the League so far, and he will be hoping for The Saints first home win against a rejuvinated Town side.
Southampton kicked off their Season at Ninian Park, Cardiff, losing by 2 goals to 1, The following Saturday saw Birmingham win by the same scoreline at St Mary's, The Saints only League win so far followed at fellow strugglers Derby, 1-0 the final scoreline. Then a home defeat to Blackpool(1-0) and 4-1 defeat at QPR see's the Saints ,sitting struggling at the wrong end of the League ladder.
They have however prgressed to the 3rd round of the Carling Cup, by beating Exeter City 3-1 and Birmingham City 2-0. They now face a trip to the Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield, to face Rotherham United next Tuesday night.
A familiar face awaits the Town strikers in the form of goalkeeper Kelvin Davies,
who despite The Saints position, has been excellent this season, he made save after save on Sunday and is surely too good to play in the 1st Division.
Their frontline will be lead by 20 year-old David McGoldrick,
the former Notts County trainee has bagged 4 goals so far and certainly looks 'one for the future'. Aided by the experience of Stern John can only help him progress too.
OUR LEAGUE RECORD AWAY AT SOUTHAMPTON
Played 28
Won 9
Drawn 9
Lost 10
Goals:
For 41
Against 43
Our biggest victory cane in our last ever visit to The Dell,3-0 it ended up, a live Sky TV audience watched Marcus Stewart grab a hat-trick in the Premier League back in April 2001.
Our biggest loss is losing by the same scoreline(3-0) in an 'old' Division one game in 1985.
The highest attendance watched an entertaining 3-3 draw. 29,614 saw Town's first ever trip to the new stadium in October 2001. Mark Venus and Marcus Stewart(2) on the scoresheet for The Blues.
The lowest gate of just 9,028 saw Ipswich win by 1-0 in the Premier League in December 1993, Chris Kiwomya scoring at The Dell.
Our Leading scorers against Southampton are Alan Brazil and Paul Mariner who hit 7 goals each. John Wark, Marcus Stewart and Ray Crawford got 5 a piece.
13 Players have worn both kits, they include, Mick Mills, Russell Osman and gaffer Jim Magilton.
Leggi's key Town player:
Is new signing Jon Stead, The former Sheffield United striker had a dream debut on Saturday and adds somthing else to our forward line. I think he can make a real name for himself at Portman Road and bring back his heyday of Huddersfield Town. Against a young Saints side he could do real damage.
Leggi predicts:
After our struggles of recent weeks, it was with great relief that we played Reading off the park on Saturday, and got back to our near best. This can only bode well for our trip to Hampshire on Wednesday. I saw Southampton's game on Sunday, and the scoreline flattered QPR, The Saints did'nt seem that bad and our former 'Keeper Kelvin davies was in inspired form.
This said, I still feel than Poortvliet's youthful policy will see The Saints go down this season, if they don't start picking up points quickly, and can only see us winning comfortably in midweek. 3-0 to the good guys.
Next up: 1960's throwback Hillsborough and Sheff Wed.
Ipswich Town - the pride of anglia
