By Aston
December 2 2005

Team news, manager previews, betting odds and the officials ahead of Town’s game against Wolves at Portman Road tomorrow.

Town manager Joe Royle will be with out four players for tomorrows game against Wolves, striker Sam Parkin is a long term injury, midfielders Owen Garvan and Ian Westlake are out injured while Fabian Wilnis is suspended. Jimmy Juan, Kevin Horlock and Nicky Forster have all been passed fit and have been included in the squad as is Scott Barron. Adam Proudlock may start up front and Matt Richards may drop back from left midfield to left back.

 

Town manager Joe Royle: “The crowd, quite rightly, expect more from us than they are getting from us at the moment.

 

“They don't want to hear bleating about players going or injuries, they just want to see a successful side.

 

“Pressure never changes at home, we have to go and entertain them.

 

“We have played quite well in the past six games, apart from the Reading game, but we have not had our just desserts.

 

“Wolves are finding it hard to carry on from the wonderful run they had last year but, if you look at the players they have, you can see they are a strong squad and will be among the play-off places at the end of the year.

 

“Wolves are claiming they have a few injury problems up front yet they still seem to have two or three internationals around.”

 

Town Squad: Scott Barron, Dean Bowditch, Billy Clarke, Darren Currie, Jason De Vos, Nicky Forster, Kevin Horlock, Jimmy Juan, Jim Magilton, Richard Naylor, Lewis Price, Adam Proudlock, Matt Richards, Luis Sito, Shane Supple, Gavin Williams.

 

Glen Hoddle has players returning from injury but tomorrow may come too soon for most of them, Rohan Ricketts played for Wolves second string in midweek, striker Kenny Miller started training again yesterday, defender Rob Edwards trained yesterday, midfielders Paul Ince and Mark Davies also trained, goalkeeper Matthew Oakes has a cold and is a doubt.  

 

Wolves manager Glen Hoddle: “We have been in this situation before, where we have had a little spell where our games are away from home, and we performed well, we are capable of scoring goals and picking up points, but Ipswich is a tough place to go.

 

“They have injuries and suspensions, like we have, but I see no reason why we can't go and enjoy a good game.

 

“I wasn't here when we played Ipswich away last season, but our game against them at Molineux was one of the best performances of that campaign.

 

“If we can pick up two wins, or a win and a draw from these games away at Ipswich and Palace then that would set us up nicely for the Leeds game and then the run of matches all close together over Christmas.”

 

Officials:

Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire)

Assistant Referees: Martin Dexter (Leicestershire) and Graham Horwood (Bedfordshire)

Fourth Official: Matthew Stewart (Essex)

 

Match odds from Coral:

Ipswich: 6/4

Draw: 21/10

Wolves: 6/4

 

STB Prediction: Town 2-4 Wolves (66/1)

 

Sources: EADT, Coral.co.uk, football league – the official website and Wolves – the official website.

 

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